f LIBRARY OF CONGRESS" 

#f*P- »£™~. |w%w |o J| 

| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 



a 



ILLUSTRATED 

HORSE OWNERS (JURE: 

BEING A SYNOPSIS OF THE 

Diseases of Horses and Cattle, 

THEIR CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT. 



ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO THE USE OP 

FARMERS AND HORSEMEN 



^BY 

GEO. O. HARLAN, V. S. 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 

GEORGE O. HARLAN, V. £,, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 

Fremont: 1/^.lfi'' 

MESSENGER STEAM PRINTING MuLSE, 
l875 



PREFACE, 

Experts and professional horsemen who may re- 
fer to these pages will not be long in discovering that 
I have not attempted to write for them; and some may 
even differ with me on some points, but I have little 
fear that any two will find the same fault, so notional 
and self-opinionated are they on the subject of the 
diseases and management of the horse. 

This is the seventh edition of my work. While 
disposing of the six former editions (io,ooo copies 
in all) I have learned from observation and in my 
practice and extensive travels, that horsemen and 
farmers want a simple- and practical work. I have 
written for the vast multitudes of horsc-oivncrs who 
have little or no exact information on this subject. 
and whose enquiring minds would only be confused 
and bewildered by the technical terms and elaborate 
disquisitions. For this multitude the information 
furnished, must necessarily be condensed and super- 
ficial, but should be of such a nature as would lead 
them in the right direction, so that all their future 
experience may be built upon a good foundation 01 
common sense, unhampered by crude notions and 



n- 



HARLAN'S HOUSE OWNER S GUIDE. 3 

antiquated prejudices. The world has -outgrown 
much that was counted for wisdom a few genera- 
tions ago, and the old " horse books" viewed in the 
light of j>resent veterinary knowledge are but stupid 
collections of old-fashioned nonsense, To make this 
edition the more valuable it has been carefully re- 
vised, much valuable matter has been added and the 
number of illustrations largely increased, involving 
considerable additional expense. It is much larger 
and more complete than any previous edition. 

It is the author's hope that every reader will 
find some useful information on some of those points 
about which everyone possessing animals should be 
informed. 

Geo. O. Harlan, Veterinary Surgeon, 



TO MY PATRONS, 

III the arrangement of this book all superfluous or 
worthless matter has been carefully excluded, to 
avoid making the book large and costly, in order to 
make the price so moderate as to place it within the 
reach of all. 

The remedies are all simple and are classified for 
convenience of reference, and in the treatment of 
the various diseases are spoken of as for example 
Couo-Ji Povjdcrs for all throat and lung: disease^ : 
Tonic Poivdcrs for all cases of debility, loss of ap- 
petite etc. ; Sweating Liniment tor all deep-seated 
and chronic injuries such as Ring Bone, Bone Spavin, 
Curb and Diseases of the Feet etc. 

To find the formulas or receipts for any of the 
compounds mentioned in the treatment of diseases, 
turn to the formulas or receipts in the body of the 
book, The object of this arrangement was to econ- 
omize space by avoiding unnecessary repetition. 

Persons at a distance having* sick or lame animab 
can consult me by letter, giving symptoms as accur- 
eurately as posMo.e, enclosing fifty cents for advice. 



HARLAN S HORSE OWNERS GUIDE. tj 

No attention will be paid to letters asking tor advice 
without the above fee enclosed. Write name, post- 
office, county, and state plainly and address 

Geo. O. Harlan, Veterinary Surgeon. 

Fremont, Sandusky Co.. O. 



The Improved System 

OF 

BREAKING AND HANDLING HORSES. 



In the management and handling of the horse, 
we need say little. A man that cannot control him- 
self, cannot control the horse. All bad horses 
are made so by bad treatment. "Balky drivers make 
balky horses." The theory of training horses was first 
introduced in the United States in 1837, K v ^- ^- ^- 
Fancher. Since then many others have come before 
the public as Horse-trainers, claming secrets in the 
art, by which all men that learn the secret can be- 
come Horse-trainers. The only secret is good sound 
sense and kindness. Without it none will succeed. 

We have only added in this work that which we 
think will be the most useful to the horse owners. 
The manner of breaking horses of bad habits will be 
found in a plain, practical method, with illustrations. 
There are many bad habits of the horse which we have 
not mentioned in this work, but a sensible application 






0\\ NER S GUllJE. / 

of the rules we have laid down, will find a remedy 
for most, if nut all of them. 

THE WAR BRIDLE. 

This is one of the most useful appliances for the 

handling of a colt or unruly horse, that has ever yet 

been invented. Get a small, half-inch rope, twenty feet 

ong, with about an eight inch loop that will not slip 

it one end : put the loop in the mouth, pass the cord 

tround the neck close to the ears ,and bring it through 

.he loop that is around the under jaw. Now if you 

wish to learn the colt to lead, stand in front of the 

;olt, and give the word, "come here !" with a light 

piick jerk upon the rope ; the animal will, in a short 

ime, learn what the word means ; when he comes 

o you give him a piece of apple, pat him kindly. By 

>ersevering in this way, we will soon have the horse 

earned to come at the word. To learn the horse to 

top and back, use the same cord. In teaching the 

olt words, always accompany the word with an ex- 

)lanatory act — something that will call his attention 

o the connection between the word and the net ; fo.v 

nstance in saving i4 \\ Tioa !" always pull upon the 

ord or reins. Never use words cither in or out of 

lie barn, except for a purpose. 

- HALT.ER PULLING. 

Place on the horse a common headstall, or hal- 

:r. Put on a common girth. Take a half-inch rope 

bout twenty feet long ; pass the center of this rope 

nder the tail in place of a crouper ; twist the rope 

er a few times, pass the ends of the rope under the 



v 



8 



HARLAN 



HORSE 



girth, bringing an end upon each side of the neck, 
and pass the ends through the rings of the halter or 
bridle, close to the nose, and tie to a stout ring or post, 
leaving about three feet play of rope. As soon as the 
horse pulls- back, the pressure coming upon the tail, 
(sec illustration), instead of the head, where 
he expects it, he starts up, it being natural to go from 
the injury. If he is in the habit of pulling nights, 
this arrangement may be kept on without fear of the 




HALTER PULLING. 

horse getting tangled in the rope. The same method 
can be used while hitched in harness on the street. 
Common sense will show you that, as there is no pull 
upon the head, and consequently no injury there, he 
will soon ceise pulling and lose the habit. To make 
the lesson effective, you may cause him to pull by 
using such exciting means as are apt to alarm him. 

WHEELING AROUND IN HARNESS. 

Put a horse with this habit in the '-Safety Shafts'" 
(see illustration). Now put oil the "war bridle"' and 
give him a few pulls ; then have some object which 
caases alarm, such as an umbrella, hat, etc., brought 



owners orinr.. 9 

up in front of him. Hold well on to the "bridle," and 
let him examine the article. The shafts will keep 
him from backing or wheeling and the "bridle must 
keep him from going ahead. Then drive him up to 
these objects by the reins, teaching him not to fear 
them, and that going ahead is the only direction for 
him. These shafts will be found useful in many 




SAFETY SHAFTS. 

other particulars, which will readily suggest them- 
selves. There are of course, many other evil habits of 
the horse, but a sensible application of the rules we 
have laid down will find a remedy for most, if not all 
of them. 

LOLLING THE TONGUE. 

To prevent this, examine whether the tongue is 
put out over the top of the bit or underneath the bit. 
if found on top of the bit the only remedy is to keep 
the tongue underneath the bit. This con be done by 
using a straight bit, Take a thick piece of soledeath- 
er, about four inches loiw rind two inches wide : cut 



IO HARLAN 5 HORSE 

off the ends rounding ; punch two small holes about 
half an inch from the edge on each side near the cen- 
ter ; with a leather string tie on top of the bit. The 
leather then should be dipped in melted rosin, so as 
to prevent the saliva of the mouth from having any 
effect upon the leather. When you put on the bit, 
place the bit on the top of the tongue, take the side- 
pieces of the head-stall up pretty well. This will jore- 
vent him from running his tongue out over the bit- 
If the horse runs his tongue out under the bit then the 
tongue must be kept on top of the bit. Take a straight 
bit, drill two holes through it two inches apart, in the 
front side of the bit. Get a piece of No. 10 wire 
about six inches long, bent half round, and rivet the 
ends in the holes drilled through the bit ; then form 
it in the shape of the bowl of a spoon. When you 
put on the bit pull the tongue through between the 
wire and the bit, seeing that the space is large enough 
for it to sit easy. This plan will soon break up this 
bad-looking habit, if rn*operly applied, 

BALKING. 

Balky drivers often make balky horses. Put 
the war bridle on ; bring the part over the neck 
close to the ears ; now jerk sideways and ahead and 
finally ahead, until there is prompt obedience in com- 
ing ahead when pulled upon.- Hitch to a wagon by 
the side of a true horse. Have prepared a smooth, 
stiff pole, about the length of the wagon tongue. 
Bore a hole about four inches from one end, pass the 
end of the rope or war bridle through the hole, and 



OWNER S GUIDE, 



1 t 



tie the pole close to the bide of the horse's mouth' 
The other end of the pole must be bored opposite the 
whiffletrec, and tied firmly with a piece of cord. 
Xow tie a strap or cord from the inside hame ring of 
the true horse to the inside hame ring of the balky 
horse, for the pole to rest upon, so as to be just taut 
when the horses are in position. (Sec illustration.) 




AXT I -BALKING. 

As soon as the balky horse refuses to go, the strength 
of the true horse is brought, by the pole, on the head, 
which will compel him to go forward. Start and 
stop often, until obedience is secured. This pole may 
be used as long as there is any disposition to balk. 
The horse should not be required at first to use the 
strength in drawing. Let this be required gradually, 
as there is obedience and willingness. There are but 
few horses that cannot be broke by this method. Vet 
there are some horses that this method has failed. 
Fortunately, we have a remedy that will conquer the 
.worst cases. - Take a half inch cord fifteen feet lon^, 



12 



HARLAN S HORSE 



lie one end to the outside lr.tme ring of the balky 
horse, take it back under the tall the same as halter 
pulling, and tie the other end to the inside hame ring 
of the true horse. Renumber this appliance should 
only be applied if the p ole fails. The pole must be 
left on when the c 3rd is applied. Both remedies will 
not fail to make the worst horse work. 

JUMPING OVER FENCES. 

Many farmers assert that a remedy to prevent a 
horse from j '.imping is alone worth the price of this 
book. This method has never failed, and we canrec- 




ANTl-JUMPEIl. 

ommend it to all who have that kind of horses or 
miTfej. It is also a great benefit when a horse is turned 
cut that will run, and often injure themselves. Place 



owner's guide. '.5 

a good stout girth around the horse, having a ring 
Lwed or tied on just back of the elbow on the left side. 
Now pet a piece of soft leather three inches wide and 
about "eight inches long ; cat it to lit snug around the 
leg just below the knee : then take a small strap one 
and a half inches wide, long enough to buckle around 
over the piece of leather just below the knee. By 
cutting slits in the center of the leather the strap can 
be drawn through, aid when buckled tight it will re- 
main in its place. A strap must then be passed 
through the ring in the girth, and through a ring in 
the small strap just below the knee. A little slack 
should be left, so as to let the animal step forward. 
! (See illustration.) You will see that it is impossible 
for the animal to jump with the leg that has the strap 
attached, as a horse must always raise with both legs 
to jump a fence. This method gives the head perfect 
liberty, and there is no danger of bruising the limbs, 
as is often done with a yoke. 

KICKING IX HARNESS. 
This is apparently the most dangerous and diffi- 
cult habit to overcome to which horses are subject ; 
yet it is a habit that yields readily to my treatment, 
but requires care and a large share of common sense 
in determining how much must be done, and where 
to stop. This cannot be learned by any fixed rule, 
since there is such a great difference of extremes 
shown in this habit that it is not safe to venture a 
limit of what and how much must be done. If the 
horse will not permit the harness to be put on, use 



l\ JiARLAN 1 S HOUSE 

the war bridle, place the rope well back on the neck, 
draw it tight and tie a half-hitch, step ba;k and pass 
the hand from the shoulders to the hind parts gently ; 
if this is done, take the harness in the right hand and 




ANTI- KICKER. 

work it back gently over the back ; in a few minutes 
slack up on the cord, caress the animal a short 
time, then draw the cord up again, and proceed 
until the harness is properly .fitted. A sulky is 
best to drive the horse in first. Now we use a 
short rope, long enough to go around the upper 
jaw, which must be tied so as not to slip, the knot 
must be placed in the center of the mouth. Then 
take a cord twenty feet long, half inch thick, double 
it, and pass one end through the loop around the up- 
per jaw pass up between the ears (having a ring or 
loop fastened to the top of the bridle for the ropes 



owner's guide. 15 

to pass through); pass each rope through the terrets of 
the back-baud of the harness, where the lines pass 
through, then through a ring that must be tied to the 
crouper strap, divide the cords, and tie each end 
snugly to the shafts (see illustration). By this ar- 
rangement a horse cannot kick unless he jerkes his 
head up, he will punish himself at every attempt he 
makes to kick, Avoid using the whip. Treat the 
horse kindly, even with marked proofs of affection. 



To Observe Diseases 






We arc sometimes asked how it is that we know 
so exactly what the disease that this or that animal s 
affected with, as it can not speak and narrate its ills 
and its aches. To this question we might repeat a 
common truism. "A shut mouth tells no lies !" there- 
fore nobody is deceived. Nature has but one set of 
weights and measures, and they only should be used. 
Thus, if a horse has a corn or bruised heel, he will be 
as sure to go lame as he would with an ordinary 
sprain ; the only difference is that he not only stretch- 
es out the sore foot, but he elevates the heel from the 
ground, and will not set his foot flat to please, or it 
may be said to deceive any one. In the diseases of the 
chest, lungs or plural, the animal can not lie down, 
whereas, in diseases of the abdomen, stomach, large 
or small intestines, when the pain is very great, they 
will lie down and roll. In diseases of the bladder the 
symptoms are well marked by the frequent efforts to 
urinate, and often lie down, but seldom role ; and in 
all cases where there is pain in any part of the body 



owner's guide, 17 

which the animal can reach he will show by pointing 
with his nose, 

We have still other and more important symp- 
toms, the pulse and the membrane of the nose. These 
are the important keys to all internal diseases. Study 
them well while the animal is in health, and you will 
soon become familiar with them, so as to enable you 
to detect when there is am thing wrong with the an- 
imal. 

If the horse is sick use reason. Don't bleed, and 
pour down the poor animal such medicines as every 
ignorant bystander may recommend. The belief is 
too prevalent that every ailment is based upon botts 
or colic, and that if medicine will not cure, it will 
not harm. This is all wrong. If you do not know 
what the trouble is, do not commit the error of doing 
anything more than put the animal in a quiet, clean 
and well ventilated stall. If cold weather blanket 
warmly and nurse well until you can get svmptoms, 
so as to tell what the disease is. If the animal be- 
comes suddenly lame in the hind limb, examine the 
foot, raise the fuot up, and work the limb back 
and forward. If the injury is above the hock joint 
there will be symptoms of pain in raising and moving 
the limb. If the injury is in the hock joint the lame- 
ness will be very great on turninsr the animal on the 
affected limb. If in the foot there will be fever in 
the foot. 

The same examination should be made of the 
front limb. If there is an injury in the shouklcrtherc 



iS HARLAN S HORSE 

will be pain on raising the leg; on moving the animal, 
the toe will drag upon the ground. If the injury be 
hi the knee there will be swelling, and the animal 
will not bend the knee. If in the foot a careful ex- 
amination is required. 

In all cases find, if possible the cause. The first 
attempt toward the treatment, will be to remove the 
cause, and in many cases simply by removing the 
cause, nature will accomplish a cure. No treatment 
will be of any benefit while the cause yet rem f n - 



Horse Owners Guide. 



THE PULSE. 



The pulse of the horse or ox is felt on the inner 
angle of the lower jaw, as being the most convenient 
place. The state of the pulse tells the condition of 
the heart, whether the disease is of an exalted or de- 
pressed character, or whether sickness is at all pres- 
ent. The pulse is more frequent in the young than 
in old animals. In the full grown and healthy horse 
it beats from thirty-two to thirty-eight in the minute. 
In inflammation and fever the frequency of the pulse 
is increased. In debility and depression it is slower, 
but sometimes quicker than natural. The pulse of 
inflammation and fever numbers from seventy-five to 
eighty in the minute. Hence, in all cases when the 
pulse is above the natural standard the fever medi- 
cine should be given. If no other symptoms are ob- 
served, no other remedy need be administered. In 
ca>es where the pulse is low and feeble, the stimu- 
lants and tonics should be administered; such as 
Carbonate of Ammonia, from two drachms to half 



2 HARLAN S HORSE 

ounces, which should be mixed in cold gruel and giv- 
en three times a da v. Ammonia is a highly valuable 
medicine when given in weakness, debility, and 
prostration ; indeed, Ammonia and its several prep- 
arations need only to be used, to convince one of 
their utility, in supporting the vital powers, and 
thereby curing disease. 

THE MEMBRANE OF THE NOSE. 

The membrane of the nose is an excellent guide 
to the degree and character of any disease. In health, 
and uninfluenced by exercise, that portion of the 
membrane seen in the nostrils is a pale uniform pink. 
An increased blush of red betokens some excitement 
in the system ; a streaked appearance, inflammation 
commenced ; intense redness, acute inflammation ; 
pale ground with patches of vivid red, half subdued, 
but still existing fever ; uniform color, but somewhat 
redder than natural, a return to healthy circulation ; 
paleness approaching whiteness, debility ; and dark 
livid color, approaching stagnation of the vital cur- 
rent. 

EXPLANATION AND TREATMENT OF 
THE FOOT, SHOEING. &c. 

Perhaps no greater curse has ever been inflicted 
. upon the horse than that of shoeing. His feet arc in- 
jured — often ruined — by it. Moreover, it frequently 
causes diseases which ruin not only the foot, but oth- 
er and more vital parts. 1 lorscs, if used at all on our 
•present roads, must be i h >'-l. All that we hope to do, 



OWNER S GUlBEi 21 

in writing on this subject, is to prevent, as far as pos- 
sible, the unnecessary infliction of these evils upon 
the horse, by pointing out wherein they exist, and 
recommending a better practice than is usual in the 
art of shoeing. 

The subject of horse-shoeing has been discussed 
for ages, and hundreds have been the inventions for 
the improvement of the shoe ; yet but little progress 
has been made, and the subject is scarcely better un- 
derstood than it was a century ago. 

If the reader will examine the colt's foot that has 
never been shod, it will be found almost round, and 
the natural bearing being the frog and walls. The 
frog is considered by all horsemen to be the life of the 
foot. The old maxim " No frog no foot," is a very 
true one when we consider the number of offices it 
performs, it is no wonder that we find so many lame 
horses, with the present method of shoeing. Nature 
intended the frog to act a prominent part in the foot. 
1st. — To act as an elastic cushion, breaking the con- 
cussion when moving on a hard road, at the same 
time causing the heels of the foot to expand whenev- 
er the weight is brought upon the foot. 2nd. — By 
its being kept in use, the natural secretion, or moist- 
ure, takes place, which furnishes moisture to the hoof. 
3rd. — The frog while in use will keep large and wide, 
and prevent the heels from contraction. 

We condemn the common shoe, as being an in- 
jury to every horse to which it is applied, as we find 
in nearly all cases where horses have been shod for a 



HARLAN S HORS& 



few years, there is lameness. The disadvantage ill 
the common shoe is : ist. — The bearing is not nat- 
ural. 2nd. — The frog is thrown out of use, causing a 
jar when the horse is traveling on a hard road. 3rd. 
— There is no expansion of the heels, the natural se- 
cretion of the frog is lost, and it soon becomes small, 
dry and hard. 4th. — The principal weight being 

brought upon the heels of the 
foot, bruising tha sensitive lami- 
nae (or commonly known as the 
quick), and causing what is 
termed corns. 

The shoe recommended in 
this work (called the plate shoe) 
will, when properly applied, 
give the animal the natural 

bearing. (See illustration.) The 
oof, reprcscn ng f ig protected from foj ury 

the plate shoe ap- r" , 7, ^ 1 . > 

plied troperlyf and at the samc time ke l 3t 1U 

use. A weak walled, or nat- 
ural flat foot can be kept natural with the plate shoe- 
With the common shoe the sole of the foot gives way 
in time, and the animal is useless on a hard road. It 
will no doubt be a difficult matter to change the pres- 
ent views ol many blacksmiths and horsemen in re- 
gard to the frog. Many have it cut away ; others 
say it was never intended to be used. We then ask 
why it is that horses that never have been shod have 
no corns, contraction or other diseases of the foot, 
which are found in the feet that are shod with the 
common shoe. It can plainly be seen on a shoe that 




jy?£mcK^TM 



OWNERS GUIDE. 23 

has been worn for some time, that at every step of 
the animal, the heels were forced inward. With the 
plate shoe, or without a shoe the heels will expand 
outward. When a shoe projects outside the heels, or 
extends back of the heels, it is often caught with the 
hind shoe and torn from the foot, and sometime 3 
causes the animal to be thrown, producing injuries 
of the foot or limb. Never have a horse shod thai 
has a hard, dry foot. Always use the poultice rec- 
ommended in this work. _ No difference what kind 
of shoe is used, or how careful the smith may be in 
shoeing, no benefit can be derived. 

HOOF ROT, OR TENDER FEET, 

What is generally known as Tender Feet, is one 
of the most common afflictions to which the horse is 
subject. No animal has tender feet unless they are 
diseased or worn off. When in a healthy condition, 
the hoof is very hard and tough — -having a bluish or 
lime-stone color. Instead of the term "tender feet,' 
it would be more correct and explicit to use thai of 
lJ noof rot.'' This is what the disease really is : 

Symptoms. — The Disease may be recognized by 
the dry, chalky appearance of the bottom of the feet, 
which may be easily dug out with a knife or chisel 
The frog of the foot is obviously diminished in size : 
and some times there is swelling; of the ankle Joint, 
when the horse remains standing for any length ox 
time. The steps are short and lame, indicating plain- 
ly the soreness of the feet, the effected member being 
put forward, and thus rested : or-, if both feet are c|is- 



2| HARLAN S IJORSE 

eased, the horse will advance first one foot and then 
the other. In the most of cases, Sweeney will follow, 
and for which the inexperienced horseman is apt to 
mistake it. 

Treatment. — Clean off the bottom of the feet ; 
dig out the pnmised, chalky matter, and pare down 
the sides or walls of the hoof, and use the following 
poultice : Pour one gallon of boiling Rain Water on 
four quarts of good ashes ; let stand until the water 
becomes slippery ; then pour the clear, weak lye on 
four quarts of bran ; mix well, so as to make a poul- 
tice ; apply to the feet in sacks, \yhich can be pre- 
pared out of heavy cloth — large enough so as to ad- 
mit the foot easily ; tie just above the hoof with a 
strip of cloth ; twine will not answer, as it is apt to 
check the circulation of the blood. The poultice 
should be changed night and morning ; three appli- 
cations is all that is required. Always apply the 
poultice as warm as the animal can stand it. If this 
treatment does not effect a cure, then use the vSweat- 
ing Li rum 2n t around the top of the hoof once a day, 
for three days ; the fourth day grease with lard, and 
continue to grease until the scurf is all removed. 

HOOF BOUND OR CONTRACTED FEET. 

The frog being placed at, and filling the rear 
part of the foot, assists in a material degree in the ex 
pansion of the foot. It is formed internally of two 
prominences on the sides, and a cleft in the center, 
presenting two concavities, with a sharp projection 
in the middle, and a gradually rounded one on each 



OWN Ell S GUIDE. 



side. It is also composed of a substance flexible and 

clastic. What can bz so well adapted for the expan- 
sion of the foot, when a portion of the weight of the 
body is thrown on it ? How readily will these irreg- 
ular surfaces yield, and spread out, and how readily 
return again to their natural state. In this view, 
therefore, the horney frog is a powerful agent in 
opening the foot; and the demunition of the sub- 
stance of the frog, and its elevation above the ground, 
with the use of the common shoe (see illustration), 
are the causes and the consequence of contraction. 

Treatment, — The first and most important part 
of the treatment of hoof-bound is to get the hoof soft 
and elastic. To accomplish this use the bran and lye 
poultice. There is no remedy known that is equal to 
this ; it will not only soften the horn and frog, but 

will remove the great- 
er portion of soreness 
in the feet. The next 
treatment to follow af- 
ter the foot is properly 
poulticed, is to apply 
the improved plate 
shoe (see illustration). 
Have the plate to rest 
upon the frog, so as to 
remove [he bearing 




.hoot representing the 

common method of 

shoeing. 



rom the heels. The 



plate or bar can be shaped so as to fit the frog. In 
some feet, when the horn at the heels cannot be cut 






I1ARJLAN S HUR.sJb 



away sufficient to admit a bearing for the frog, the 
plate or bar can be bent up ; and when applied to a 
flat foot with a large frog, the bar or plate can be bent 
down, so as to fit the foot. 

The shoe when nailed on, must not be drawn as 
tight as a common shoe. Use but three nails upon 
the inside, and four on the outside of the foot. After 
the shoe is applied you will readily notice that the 
heels will expand when the weight is thrown on the 

foot. The next treatment 
after the shoe is applied, 
w r ill be to use the sweat- 
ing liniment: Corrosive 
sublimate, Gum camphor, 
Alcohol, of each i ounce: 
Spirits ofturpentine, four 
ounces. Grind the corro- 
sive sublimate fine, then 
A foot representing the ■ 1 ■ . 

Plate Shoe with the add the alcohol and shake 
bearing thrown off well, then add the cam- 
the heels. phor and turpentine, and 

in two days it will be lit for- use. 

Apply once a day around the foot just above the 
hoof, extending it up from the edge of the hoof about 
two inches. Three applications is all that is required 
in most cases, When well blistered, dress with lard ; 
wash the foot every three or four days with castile 
soap and water, and when dry use the lard. Con- 
tinue this course until the scurf is all removed ; then 
use the liniment again and dress in like manner, -f 
the lameness is not removed. 




OWNERS GUIDB, %» 

CORNS. 

In the angle between the bars and the quarters, 
the horn of the sole has sometimes a red, or blood- 
shot appearance. This is called corns, and many 
suppose this a disease bearing a resemblance to the 
corn of the human being. This is a mistake. It is 
.in injury of the laminae (or .quick) of the heels, re- 
sembling an injury of the finger or toe nail of a hu- 
man being, when a bloodshot appearance can be seen 
underneath the finger or toe nail. The sole of the 
horses foot is filled with small pores, intended by na- 
ture to hold moisture for the foot. That part of the 
sole immediately under the injured laminae becomes 
filled with blood. When corns are neglected, so 
much inflammation is produced in that part of 'the 
sensitive sole, that suppuration follows, and t he mat- 
ter either undermines the horny sole, or is discharged 
at the coronet, and often called gravel. Corns are 
most frequent and serious in horses with thin horn 
•".no flat soles, and low, weak heels. They do not of- 
ten occur in the out side heel ; it is of a stronger con- 
struction than the inside one. 

The treatment practiced by most people is 
wrong. Cutting the corn out, as it is called, is mere- 
ly cutting the insensible sole away, aud exposing <he 
sensitive sole. Burning with a. hot iron, or usiW 
cost.c of any kind, does more harm than goocf 
Equally consistent would it be, were it consistent to 
cut through the finger or toe nail when injured, and 
burn or cauderizc the sensitive parts, 



?3 ITAfcLAN'S HORSE 

Treatment. — The treatment for corns will be 
the same as for hoof bound. In almost all cases of 
corns, there will be found contraction, -or a turning 
in of the horn at the heels. It is well to attend to the 
health of an animal that has hoof bound or corns, and 
in a majority of cases where the animal has been af- 
flicted for some time, a purge pill should be given, 
which is made as follows: 

Powdered barbadoes aloes, six drachms ; 

Powdered gention root and ginger, of each one 
drachm ; 

Mix with molasses to form a pill, or dissolve in 
half pint of water, and add one tcacupful of molasses, 
and give as a drench. 

OSSIFICATION OF THE LATERAL CAR- 
TILAGES. 

These are gristly projections from the os-pedis, 
or coffin bone in the foot, arising from contraction of 
the hoof and other causes. These cartilages can be 
readily felt at the heels and when in health can be 
moved outward with the fingers, without injury to 
the animal. In feet that are afflicted with contrac- 
tion and corns, they become inflamed, in cousequencc 
of which transformation takes place, converting them 
into bony masses ; in this condition the heels become 
thickened, and in severe cases, bulging out consider- 
ably. When confirmed the disease is incurable. 

Treatment— As this disease is the result of 
hoof bound or contraction, the same treatment is re- 
quired. 



owner's guide. 29 

TO PREPARE THE FOOT FOR THE SHOE. 

The ground surface of the crust on which the 
shoe has rested requires, after the cautious removal 
of the shoe, to be gently rasped, to remove the ragged 
edges and any stubs of the nails : the sole occasion- 
ally requires paring out with the knife, which is 
again needed in a strong foot to level the crust and 
give it an equal bearing for the shoe. But this in 
healthy feet is all that is required, either of the knife 
or rasp. The tough, horny, elastic frog, must be left 
untouched, to fulfill its functions as an insensible pad, 
obviating concussion and supporting weight. The 
bars, valuable as they also are in supporting weight, 
must likewise remain intact ; whilst the sole, which 
even high authorities advised to be thinned until it 
veilds to the pressure of the thumb, must never, in 
ordinary circumstances, be meddled with. Should 
there be found a crumbly dead substance, as will be 
found in nearly all feet that are diseased, it should be 
removed. The sole is the natural protection of the 
delicate internal parts, is infinitely superior to the 
leathers and pads substituted for it, and if left in its 
natural integrity, will protect the animal from many 
a bruised sole. 

I recommend the Plate Shoe on the forward feet 
only, and especially on horses for road work. Witf 
admit that horses intended tor farm work exclusively 
will do with the common shoe. As the animal is 
constantly on soft ground, the frog then i; in use the 
fame as if a plate shoe was used, Many blacksmiths:? 



go ttAfttAK*fl IIORSK 

when the shoe is put on and clinched, down, rasp the 
surface of the crust freely all over, to give the finish- 
ing polish to the job, but the practice is unnecessary 
and irrational, and ought to be discountenanced. 

APPLICATION OF THE SHOE, 

In applying the shoe to the foot, it should not be 
set back half or three quarters of an inch from the 
toe — the projecting parts of the wall cut away — as is 
usually the custom. The shoe should be carried 
fully to the outer margin of the wall ; thus we pre- 
serve the wall unin- 
jured. By remov- 
ing any portion of 
the crust, it is weak- 
ened in exact pro- 
portion as it is cin 
a w a y — - reducing 
space for driving 
nails— and increas- 
ing the danger of 
pricking ; or what is as bad, driving the nails too close; 
it is these abuses which compel us to regard shoeing 
the great evil of his domestication. The nails should 
be properly pointed, and not driven too high up ; care 
should be taken to have the nails driven as regular as 
possible. Three nails on the inside and four on the 
outside, are all that are required for an3 T purpose. 
Twisting the nails off with the claw of the hammer, 
and filing under the clinch, is wrong; by twisting the 
nail off, the nail often twists inside the shell — causing 




DM NER S (>U1 DK, rji 

the hole to become larger than the nail, and by filing 
under the clinch, removing the enamel or strongest 
part of the shell, leaves only the soft part of the hoof 
16 clinch on. Clips should not be used ; they are the 
frequent ciuse of an obscure lameness, which is very 
difficult to manage. The mischief is done by the 
horn in its downward growth, meeting with the re- 
sistance which the clip offers : hence, the horn is 
turned inward upon the inside toe, causing pressure 
and inflammation : and from pressure, the bone is ab- 
sorbed at the toe. The heels of the shoe should be 
brought around with the walls of the foot, not left 
projecting out for the horse to get caught with by the 
hind shoe when getting up, or traveling in a muddy 
road. 

SHOEING. 

vS hoeing is generally regarded as a necessary 
evil ; and were it not for our turnpike roads, an evil 
which might in a great measure be dispensed with. 
As it is, our object should be to observe as closelv as 
possible three important rules in shoeing horses: 
list. To preserve the natural bearing of the foot. 2d: 
To preserve the hoof in its natural shape. 3d: To 
)rotect the feet from injury. Never have a horse 
.hod with a hard, dry foot. Always poultice the 
bot when it is hard and dry. No difference what 
rind of shoe is applied, or how careful the smith mav 
)c in shoeing, no benefit can be derived. I would 
ay to all, follow* the instruction laid down in the arti- 
cle on the foot. 



'^2 HARLAN'S MOfeSfi 

OVERREACHING. 

Many persons regard Overreaching as aii indica- 
tioil of a bad hoi 4 se, yet we are compelled to recog- 
nize it as a fault in some of the best. It frequently 
occurs with young horses on a moderate gait, and 
disappears altogether on increasing the speed of the 
animal. It arises from the great activity of the hind 
legs, the fore ones not being able to get out of the 

way in time. This habit is often brought on by too 
aeavy shoeing behind, and too light shoeing in front. 
By reversing this principle, I have found it to answer 
an excellent purpose. Where this habit is allowed 
to go 'unchecked, the heels often become bruised, and 
in some instances the shoes are torn off from the 
front feet— causing much mischief to arise In conse- 
quence. This habit, tco like interfering, occurs in 
young horses after severe driving— from becoming 
le£-weary j — a circumstance which should be careful- 
ly avoided, as habits arc easily formed, but often most 
difficult to be got rid of. The preservation of the 
horse's feet depends very much upon careful and 
skillful application of the shoe, independently of its 
being constructed on correct principles. Many 
horses with very bad feet are enabled to go sound 
for many years by careful shoeing, while a bungling 
hand would render the same animal unlit for service 
in a single shoeing. It requires considerable tact to 
lit a shoe properly on a bad or weak foot, 50 as to 
protect it from injury. 



Owner's guide. 33 

STOPPING AND SOAKING HORSES FEET. 

The common practice of constantly soaking 
horses feet, is all wrong. The objection to soaking 
the feet, in hot or cold water, is that the feet soon 
loose the moisture, and the hoof becomes dry and 
brittle. A very popular notion exists, that cow ma- 
nure has a wonderfull effect on a dry hoof. It will 
soften the horn, but will not toughen it, and if con- 
tinued for any length of time, thrush will be the re- 
sult. The remedy, aside from its objection on the 
score ot decency, savors too much of by- gone days, 
when live eels were sent on an errand down horses' 
throats to unravel their intestines. 

Horses that have dry, brittle feet and are not 
lame, should have a few applications of the bran and 
lye poultice. The moisture in the poultice will 
toughen the horn, and will last at least one week, un- 
less in very warm weather. The same is an excel- 
lent application to apply to the bottom of the foot 
when the shoe is on. 

The following Hoof Liquid is also one of the 
1 best applications known to cause the horn to grow, 
and keep the foot moist : 

Neet's Foot Oil, half pint ; 

Oil of Tar; 

Oil of Origanum : 

Turpentine, of each, three ounces. 

Mix. Apply to the bottom of the foot once 01 
twice a week. It will keep the foot moist, and cause 
the hoof to grow very rapidly. 



u 



6 



HARLAN S iioiisL 



INTERFERING. 

Our first object is to ascertain, if possible, the 
cause of interfering. Many horses strike from weak- 
ness, or long- continued exertion. Particularly is this 
the case in young animals. Others cut from faulty 
conformation of the limbs ; the toes turning in or out 
too much is a frequent cause. By applying white 
paint to the injured parts, we readily discover the 
precise part of the foot which does the injury. In all 





Afoot representing the heel 

of the shoe thrown out to 

p re vent interfering. 



A foot representing the shoe 

brought around at the heels 

of an interfering horse. 



cases when the colt is first shod, a light shoe should 
be used. It will be found that many horses wear 
either the outside or inside of the foot the most ; then 
to level the foot, as is often done, the animal is sure 
to cut. The foot should be paired as it is worn, and 
the shoe, when nailed on, will then give the horse 
the same bearing that he had before he was shod. 



owner's guide. 35 

r 

Many suppose the horse strikes with the heels, which 
is a mistake. It will he found by using the test rec- 
ommended above, that the animal strikes with the 
widest part of the side of the foot. When the heels 
of the shoe are brought around under the foot, the 
bearing comes in the center (see illustration), and 

will cause many horses to cut, 
We must deviate from 
our rule in shoeing, by mak- 
ing the shoe straight on the 
inside, from the part which 
he strikes, back to the heel, 
(see illustration) so as to 
'bring: the bearing as far out 
as the portion which has 
been injured, There is no 

need of raising the inside of 
Foot representing a thc foot as is ofteia done 

shoe for interfering. „ rl ,, ... 

J ' When the pastern joint is 

enlarged with cutting, a strip of India rubber should 
be placed between the shoe and thc foot, projecting 
a half inch beyond thc shoe. This being soft and 
elastic, will not bruise thc part struck by thc shoe or 
foot, giving it time to heal, and cause the animal to 
work clear in traveling. This plan is successful if 
properly applied, unless in cases of natural deformity 
or faulty conformation in the limbs. 




THRUSH. 

This consists of inflammation 
the sensitive surfaces within < 



and ulceration of 
clefts of thc froo-. 



36 Harlan's horse 

with the consequent discharge of a feted muco puru- 
lent fluid, It results from horses standing in foul, 
damp stables, is often seen among colts in wet, dirty 
straw yards, and frequently results in lameness, 

Treatment.— Apply the poultice recommended 
for all foot diseases. Carefully remove the deceased 
horn, and apply the sweating liniment once a day for 
two days. In two or three days repeat if necessary, 
It rarely requires a second dressing, 

CANKER, 

This is a more aggrevated form of thrush, often 
proving very troublesome to manage, It is a contin- 
uation of thrush between the horny frog and the in- 
ternal structure of the foot, causing separation be- 
tween them, 

Treatment.— The same as recommended for 
thrush, 

QUARTER CRACK. 

This is sometimes the result of driving on a hard 
road, when the hoof is hard and dry, and is often 
found on the inside of the foot. 

Treatment. — Poultice for a few days, then ap- 
ply the plate shoe, removing the bearing from the 
quarter affected, and permitting the bar or plate to 
rest w r ell upon the frog. Apply the sweating lini- 
ment around the coronet over the part affected, once 
a day for three days, then dress with lard until the 
scurf is removed, and apply again. A few months 
patient and rational treatment will usually accomplish 
a cure. 



cvwxehY, guide* 37 

SPLIT HOOF OR TOE CRACK, 

This is nearly the same as quarter crack, only 
differently located. It usually commences at the cor- 
onet, goes down the foot and reaches to the toe, It 
is, also, always found in a hard dry hoof. 

Treatment. — Always pear out the crack so as 
to convert it into a groove. Poultice for a few days, 
and apply the plate shoe, having the bearing rest well 
upon the frog, and remove the bearing in the front 
of the foot between the forward nails. We thus 

avoid all the appliances that 
arc usually applied around the 
hoof ; and drawing the parts 
together with nails is often in- 
jurious. If the shoe is proper- 
ly applied, the crack will close 
when the weight is b rough 
upon the hoof. Applv the 
sweating liniment the same 

as recommended for quarter 
J he protend surface ^ \ ^ -,1 

Xw ^7 / 7 crack. A horse with quarter 

of the plate she e. m L 

crack or split hoof must be kept 
off the hard roads. If the 1 dice remains upon the 
foot any length of time, the hoof immediately under- 
neath the injured part is apt to grow, so as to bring a 
bearing on the shoe. This must be closely watched, 
and if found bearing on the slice, the hoof should be 
pared off." This can be done without the shoe being 
removed. 




38 harlan's horse 

INJURIES OF THE FEET. 

Lameness is often caused by nails in the foot. 
In many cases when the animal steps on a nail, the 
nail being fast to a plank or board, the wound is as 
severe as if the nail remained in the foot, and the in- 
jured spot is more difficult to find. In all cases poul- 
tice with the bran and lye poultice. On the removal 
of the poultice, by tapping over the bottom of the 
foot, the injured part can be found, and a free open- 
ing must be made through the hoof, cr sole, but do 
not plug it up again with rosin, as many do. Apply 

the poultice, and continue until 
the horse is well. 

The same treatment should 
be applied in cases where the 
foot is corked. Remove the 
detached parts of the hoof with 
a knife, and when the horse is 
taken out of the stable, tar 
should be applied over the 
wound. It is also well to ob- 
serve the pulse, in case of any 
injury which is very painful, 
and if found excited, give upon the tongue a teaspoon- 
ful of the fever medicine three 01 four times a day. 

PRICK OF THE SOLE. 

Causes. — Generally the blacksmith's careless- 
ness when shoeing the horse. 

Symptoms. — Great lameness immediately after 
the shoe is applied. 




7 he bearing surface 
of the flate shoe. 




OWNERS GLIDE; 3c) 

Treatment. — Withdraw the nails of the shoe. 
If one is wet, cut down on that hole until the sensi- 
tive sole is exposed. Apply the poultice for a few 
days, and when the shoe is again nailed on, remove 
the bearing at the injured part. 

' GREASE OR CRACKED HEELS. 

Causes. — Age, debility, excessive labor, filth, 
neglect, cutting the hair off at the heels, and turning 
out to grass in the cold months. 

Symptoms.- — Scurviness and itching of the legs, 
hair stands on end, moisture exudes and hangs upon 
the hair in drops, swelling and excessive pain. 

Treatment. — Open the bowels with the follow- 
ing pill : Barbadocs Aloes, one ounce ; pulverized 
Gentian and Ginger, of each one drachm, and warm 
water sufficient to make a pill ; wash the parts well* 
and poultice for two or three days with the bran and 
weak lye poultice. Then apply Glycerine half a 
pint, Carbolic Acid one ounce, and one pint of 
strong solution of Oak Bark ; Mix. Wet three or 
four thicknesses of cloth and apply : change them as 
often as they become hot, until the inflammation is 

gone. 

SCRATCHES, 

This disease is well known to all horsemen* 
Treatment. — Wash the parts well with Castile 
vSoap and water, and when dry apply the same rem- 
edy as recommended for grease, or try White Lead 
mixed with oil. In recent cases this is all that is re- 
quired. In man}' ca f es the blood is in bad condition, 



46 iiarlan's iioRS£ 

then give in the iced one tcaspoonful of the follow- 
ing : Sulphate of Iron, two ounces, Powdered Gen- 
tian, Powdered Hyposulphite of Soda, of each two 
ounces. Mix. 

RING-BONE. 

This is one of the most common diseases, involv- 
ing the front as well as the hind limbs. 

Causes. — Strains, sprains, or blows upon the 
parts, causing an inflammatory condition of the 
cartilaginous cushion, which cover the uniting 
surfaces of each bone, or of the ligaments that 
surround the joint. The inflammatory condition 
of the joint may be considered the exciting cause 
of ring-bone. It is not always that ring-bone 
causes lameness. When there is no lameness, 
no treatment is required. The enlargement can 
not be removed. When there is lameness, the 
cartilage or cushion between the joint is involved, 
which permits the bones to grind one upon another. 
Anchylosis or union of the bones is the only remedy. 
When there is a heat detected, apply cooling embro- 
cations, such as vinegar aud salt, as warm as the ani- 
mal can stand it ; when the fever is removed, apply 
the sweating liniment, Corrosive Sublimate one 
ounce, Alcohol one ounce, Gum Camphor one ounce, 
Turpentine half pint. Grind the Sublimate and Al- 
cohol together, then add the Camphor and Turpen- 
tine. Shake well. Let stand two days and then use 
once a day for three days, then dress the parts well 
with lard, and wash with soap and water until the 



OWNERS GUIDE. 

scurf is removed. Repeat in four weeks if the 
animal is still lame. The animal must be kept quiet 
in the stable for at least three or four weeks, as no 
treatment will be of any benefit if the animal is used 
or permitted to run in the field. It is also well to at- 
tend to the general health of the animal ; in many 
cases an active purge will be of great benefit, followed 
with soft, light food. Cutting the feeder out and ap- 
plying strong medicine and many other remedies that 
are often recommended, frequently do more harm 

than good. 

SPLINT. 

This is a bony deposit, situated between the can- 
non and splint bones, well known to all horsemen, 
rarely causing lameness, except when it is situated so 
as to interfere with the action of the knee-joint, or at 
the lower extremity of the splint-bone. Few horses 
attain the age of eight year-* without having them ; 
they disappear in time by spreading over a greater 
surface of bone, becoming flat upon the surface, giv- 
ing rise to the opinion often indulged in by horse- 
men, that old horses never have splints. Splint is a 
disease of the same character as spavin, is often found 
on the outside as well as on the inside of the limb, 
and requires the same treatment. Use the Sweating 
Liniment once a day for three clays, then grease with 
lard until the scurf is removed. 

BONE SPAVIN. 
This is a very common disease, located in the 
hock joint of the horse, arising from strains, sprains, 



4_2 HARLAN S ITOttSK 

bruises, punctured wounds, in fact anything that will 
produce inflammation in the hock, will produce spavin. 

Symptoms. — The first symptom that will be 
noticed, is a lameness on first starting ; after the 
animal moves a short distance, all lameness disap- 
pears. There is often lameness in the hock joint 
without any enlargement. By turning a horse short 
or causing him to move in a circle, the lameness can 
be distinctly seen. This is called Occult Spavin. 

Treatment. — Will be the same as Ring-Bone. 
Apply vinegar and salt as warm as the animal can 
bear, for a few days. At the same time give a purge 
pill, keep the animal quiet, as no treatment will be of 
any benefit while the animal is moving around. 
When all the inflammation is removed, apply the 
Sweating Liniment once a day, for three days, then 
dress with lard until the scurf is removed. If nec- 
essary, repeat the application. It would also be well 
to rub lard upon the leg from the lower part of the 
spavin down, before each application of the liniment, 
so as to prevent the liniment from taking effect be- 
low the jo n,. Remember the lameness only can be 
cured, the enlargement cannot be removed, as is oft- 
en claimed by many. 

BOG OR BLOOD SPAVIN. 

This is a puffy swelling, upon the inside, and 
front part of the hock, caused by an abundant secre- 
tion of synovial fluid, or joint o: 1 . It occurs in 
rapidly growing animals, sometimes without any ap- 
parent cause, but more commonly in those that have 



6WNER S GUIDE. 43 

been put too early to work beyond their strength. — 
It rarely causes lameness or other inconvenience, be- 
ing nothing more than an ej'e-sore. 

Treatment. — In young colts it will generally 
disappear when they arc turned out to grass. In 
older animals it sometimes disappears when they are 
exercised. 




A Representation of a Bandage for Blood Spavin. 

In all cases where treatment is required the 
bandage or compress is to be used. To get a band- 
age made, get the exact size of the hock joint by cut- 
ting a pattern of paper first. (See illustration of 
bandage.) A good stout piece of paper, large 
enough to go around the joint. Cut the shape as is 
shown in the illustration, then fit to the joint snugly 
so it just meets in the front part of the leg. Then 
have the harness maker cut out a piece of leather the 
same size as the pattern. Then cut the piece that is 
above the hock out and have a piece of good rubber 
sewed in its place. (A piece of suspender will an- 
swer.) The buckles should then be sewed oil, and 
a soft piece of leather stitched upon the inside to 



HARLAN S HORSE 



44 

form a pocket immediately over the enlargement 
This pocket is then stuffed with hair or cotton. The 
compress should only be applied at night. The ani- 
111 il should either be used or let run out during the 







da 



av 



and in about one week the enlarge- 



me nt will be entirely gone. It if the 
only bandage that can be kept on the 
horse's hock joint. When fhe leg is 
raised the rubber over the top of the 
hock joint will give and the bandage 
will remain in its place. It will be 
well after the enlargement is removed 
to apply a blister and give the animal a 
A Hock joint month's run at grass. The sweating 
with the Liniment will answer. Apply once a 
bandage day for three days, then dress with lard 

applied for and every other day wash with soap 
blood spavin, and water, and when dry grease, con- 
tinue until all the scurf is removed. 
This treatment will succeed in curing the majority of 
cases. Except when lameness is connected with 
blood spavin, then the sweating liniment should be 
used the same as for bone spavin. 

THOROUGH PIN. 

This is the same disease as Blood or Bog Spavin, 
only in an aggravated rorm. A round tumor that 
can be forced through the lesf. 



Treatment, 
or Bog Spavin. 



Same ars recommended for Blood 



OWNERS Gl'IDE. 



CURB, 



'his is an enlargement, which makes its appear- 
ance on the hind lesrs about two inches below the 
hock. It is sometimes occasioned by a blow. But 
the most frequent causes is a strain of the sheath, 
through which the flexor tendons pass. If seen in 
its early stage, it would in all probability, yield to 
rest and cooling applications. But if neglected until 
effusion takes plaoc, or the surrounding tissues be- 
come injected and thickened, then a different course 
of treatment must be adopted. 

Treatment.— Oar usual remedy, is the Sweat- 
ing Liniment ; apply once a day for three days ; 
then dress with lard until the scurf is removed. In 
two weeks, if the enlargement has not all disappeared, 
repeat the application. Another very good remedy 
for Curb and all enlargements about the limbs cf the 
horse — is Biniodide of Mercury, two drachms ; Lard, 
one ounce ; mix. This should be rubbed upon the 
enlargement twice a day until the parts are well 
blistered ; then wash with soap and warm Water, and 
dress with lard until all the scurf is removed. This 
is a milder remedy than the Sweating Liniment, and 
is much easier handled, but will not remove the en- 
largement so quickly. Neither of the above reme* 
dies will leave a scar or blemish, if applied as directed. 

CAPPED HOCK. 

This is a puffy swelling of the cap of the hock, 
containing a serous fluid. It is caused by bruises in 



\() HARLAN S MORSE 

kicking against the side of the stall, and by not hav- 
ing sufficient bedding. 

Treatment.— First remove the cause; if caused 
by kicking, buckle a strap around the leg just above 
the hoof, with a piece of chain attached eight inches 
long ; this will break the habit of kicking. In re- 
cent cases by rubbing soft soap well on the parts in 
the morning, and washing off with warm water in 
the evening, in a few days this will often remove 
them, Cases of long standing, when the enlarge- 
ment becomes hard, an operation is the only remedy ; 
dissect the entire enlargement out. Heal the wound 
with Glycerine, two ounces ; Carbolic Acid, half 
ounce. Apply twice a day, 

CAPPED ELBOW 

This is very common, especially among heavy 
horses. It is caused by the animal lying on the heel 
cork of the shoe, narrow stall, or thinly bedded. It 
consists of a bursa, which, as in "capped hock," has 
been injured, and has consequently enlarged. It dif- 
fers from Capped Hock, as it is liable to ulcerate and 
become senuous, when allowed to remain until it is 
of extreme magnitude. 

Treatment. — Apply the vinegar and salt as 
warm as the animal can bear it, for a few days, then 
lay the parts open well with the knife, introduce the 
linger, and remove all the ragged parts. Apply the 
Glycerine and Carbolic Acid, as recommended for 
Capped Hock. 



OWNER S GUIDE, 47 

SWOLLEN LEGS. 

This is generally caused by debility. In course 
)red horses, the hind legs will stock when standing 
ipon a plank floor. In cases where the parts are 
rot and tender, soft water should be applied, as hot 
is the animal can bear it, for one hour, then rub dry 
ind bandage with flannel bandage. Give a purge 
inll, follow by feeding Tonics — -Sulphate of Iron, two 
ounces ; Powdered Gentian, two ouuces ; Powdered 
Hyposulphite of Soda, two ounces. Give one tea- 
spoonful three times a day in bran or cut feed. Give 
noderate exercise daily. 

WINDGALLS. 

Causes. — Hard work, bruises, &c. 

Symptoms. — Small enlargement, generally form- 
'ed upon the hind legs, both on the inside and outside. 
No lameness, after extraordinary labor, the swelling 
disappears, sometimes continued irritations will cause 
the windgalls to greatly enlarge, and ultimately 
causes the sac to change into bone. During this 
change the horse is very lame. 

Treatment. — Fold pieces of rags, wet them, 
put these on the wind galls ; place on the rags pieces 
of cork, and over the cork, place on an India-rubber 
bandage. Mind this bandage is constantly worn, 
save when ridden or driven. Rest is the only allevi- 
ation for the change of structure. 

FOUNDER, 

Certain attacks of inflammation which frequent* 
lv make their appearance in the horses' feet, have re- 



^S harun's horse 

ceived the name of Founder, but for what reason it 
would be difficult to see, since there is not the least 
apparent connection between the term and disease 
to which it is applied. The common theory among 
farmers is, that the horse becomes foundered from 
over-eating or from drinking too much water, the 
founder descending suddenly to the feet. The dis- 
ease is known by a variety of names in different sec- 
tions of the country. For instance : Water found- 
der, Corn founder, Grass founder and others. As to 
a cure, these persons imagine that the great object is 
obtained if the founder can be restricted and kept 
from settling down to the extremities of the limbs. 
In realty, however, the founder is not only in the feet 
already, but has probably been established there for 
days, or perhaps for w r eeks. The sensible portion of 
the foot within the hoof, and the bones in the imme- 
diate vicinity, the coffin, the pastern and shuttle bone, 
are filled with little blood vessels, which supply these 
parts with material for nutrition. The inflammation 
to winch this region is subject, is commonly acute in 
the case of Founder, and liable to be developed sud- 
denly. 

Causes. — Although our space is limited, we 

(.cannot pass this common disease, without giving it a 
more satisfactory explanation than has generally 
been given by the most of writers : There is but one 
cause for Acute Laminitis (Founder,) — man's brutal- 
ity. Horses with "hoof rot," are more liable to be 
affected than those with sound feet. Yet all are sub- 
ject to the disease. Horses driven far and long, 



OWNER S GUIDE. 49 

1 oyer hard, dry roads, frequently- exhibit the disease. 
Symptoms. — After a hard drive, the animal is 
often left in a draft of air. A short time only, is re- 
quired to produce the acute stage of the disease. Oft- 
en the horse is put up for the night, and withont any 
of the symptoms being noticed. The next morning 
the horse is found all of a heap, and the food un- 
touched ; the flesh is quivering ; the eyes are glar- 
ing ; the nostrils are distended, and the breath is 
jerking ; the flanks are tucked up ; the back is 
roached, and the hind legs are advanced to take the 
bearing: from the inflamed fore members ; the front 
feet are pushed forward so as to receive the least pos- 
sible amount of weight, and that upon the heels ; the 
feet are hot ; the pulse full, firm, and about seventy. 

Treatment. — First get the forward feet in hot 
water — as hot as the animal can stand. If you have 
no foot bath, strong wooden pails will answer, if a 
board is cut to fit under the bottom to prevent the. 
bottom of the pail from being forced out ; not having 
any pails, use woolen cloths of three or four thick- 
nesses, secure them around the foot, and pour the 
hot water upon the cloths. As soon as this has been 
accomplished, give one teaspoonful of the fever 
medicine upon the tongue, and continue to give every 
half hour until four doses are eiven, then give every 
three hours,. A purge pill should be given as soon as 
it can be prepared. The hot water application must 
be kept up at least one hour, or until the hoof be- 
comes soft. Then remove the shoes, by first cutting 



50 kaklan's horse 

the clinches so that the shoe can be taken off with- 
out wrenching it off, as the smith usually does. Have 
a pair of sacks prepared ; also the bran and lye 
poultice, so as to slip on the feet as soon as the shoes 
are removed. This should all be done quietly, then 
place the animal in a quiet place with a good bed of 
straw, The sooner the animal will lie down and re- 
lieve his feet from the weight, the better it will be 
for him. In twelve or fourteen hours the purge 
will operate, and there will be relief. If there is any 
soreness remaining in the feet, the Sweating Liniment 
should be used the same as directed for"hoof- 
bound," or "contraction." 

SHOULDER STRAIN 

This is one of the most easily detected injuries to 
which the horse is liable, as the symptoms are well 
marked. If the injury is severe, the shoulder swells 
in consequence of the inflammation. The toe drags 
upon the ground whenever the animal moves for- 
ward. In recent castas, foment the parts well with 
hot water for half an hour, then rub dry ; use the fol- 
lowing liniment twice a day : Alcohol, one pint ; 
Gum Camphor, two ounces ; Turpentine, one ounce. 

SWEENEY, OR FALLING AWAY OF THE 

MUSCLES. 



A shrinking: of the muscles, either of the shoul 

>r hip, is called sweeney. 

Causes. — A long continued pain, a nail in. th,< 



OWNER S GUIDE. 5 I 

foot, an injury of the shoulder joint, a ring-bone or a 
spavin, will often produce this disease. 

There is no trouble to locate a lameness that is 
in the fore part of the horse. If the lameness is in 
the foot the horse will raise his foot as w r cll as a 
sound horse, but if the lameness is in the shoulder he 
will drag the leg and often swing the foot out ; a 
lameness in the foot, or an old chronic disease in the 
foot, will produce sweeney in the shoulder. 

Now, there no use in doctoring the shoulder if 
the disease is in the foot ; treat the diseased part, 
whether in the foot, leg or shoulder, as recommended 
for such disease, and little trouble will be met with in 
the cure of sweeney. A seton, or stimulating lini- 
ment, such at the Veterinary Liniment, applied once 
a day, will soon bring the muscles to their natural 

standard. 

GALLS. 

These are generally caused by friction or une- 
qual pressure from the saddle, collar, etc. Bathe the 
parts With the Veterinary Liniment ; or use tincture 
of Aloes, one ounce ; tincture of Myrrh, two ounces ; 
mix, and use two or three times a day. White lead 
will sometimes effect a cure. 

WATER FARCEY, OR YELLOW WATER. 

This disease is. known by different names. The 
general symptom is swelling of the belly, either be- 
tween the front legs, or the back part of the abdo- 
men. At first the parts feel flabby, and appear as if 
filled with fluid ; then as the swelling extends over a 



5 2 harlan's horse: 

large surface, it becomes hard, and frequently break, 
oat, discharging a yellowish fluid. 

Treatment.— In the first stages when the parts 
feel soft, apply the mustard and vinegar rubbed in 
well, give plenty of exercise, and feed the Tonic 
Powders, one teaspoontul three times a day on the 
feed. When there is a discharge of yellowish fluid, 
wash the parts with a strong solution of sal petre 
water— half pound of sal peter dissolved in half gal- 
lon of hot rain, water. Apply twice a day. When 
the swelling is hard, and the impression of the finger 
is left when pressed on the parts, scarify with a sharp 
knife, and apply the sal petre water hot as the animal 
can stand it. Give a Purge Pill, then give the the 
Tonic Powders in the feed three times a day ; also 
give plenty of walking exercise. This treatment will 
cure the worst cases. 

CRAMP OR STRAIN OF THE WHIRL-BONE 

JOINT. 

This disease, even when it exists in a severe 
form, is seldom suspected by the most experienced 
horsemen, in consequence of the peculiar manner in 
which the animal is handled. The horse appears per- 
fectly well, but on attempting to make him move 
around in the stall, or to back sudden, he then ap- 
pears to have lost all power of motion of one of the 
hind legs. By the animal making a few efTorts, the 
leg is again all right, and if kept moving nothing 
more will be noticed until he is left standing for a 
short time. Many will call this disease spring-halt. 



6WNER 5 C.C1DE; 53 

c disease is located in the whirl-bone joint, caused 
by a severe strain of the ligaments or muscles sur- 
rounding the joint, and sometimes causes severe lame- 
ness. The animal will often rest the leg by letting 
the pasturn joint rest on the ground. 

Treatment.— Give absolute rest, and apply the 
sweating liniment once a day for three days over the 
joint ; grease with lard the fourth day ; continue to 
grease and wash the parts until the scurf is removed. 
It is well to grease with lard below the joint, to pre- 
vent the medicine which may run down having any 
effect. A space of six inches in circumference im- 
mediately over the joint should be wet with the lini- 
ment. 

RHEUMATISM. 

1 

This disease is rarely met with except in this 

State (Ohio). It appears to be very common in this 

climate. 

Symptoms. — Stiffness in moving about, and sud/ 
den in its attack. The animal is lame first in one leg 
and then in another ; the joints are sometimes swollen 
and are painful to the touch. 

Treatment. — Give a Purge if the animal is in 
good flesh ; if not, give bran-mashes with one tea- 
spoonful of powdered Colehicum seed mixed with 
the bran-mash twice a day. Bathe the parts with 
hot water twice a day, as hot as the animal can bear 
it for one hour, then rub dry and apply the following' 
liniment : Alcohol, one half- joint ; OilOrganum, one 



54 HARLAN S HORSE 

half ounce. If the pulse is above the natural standard: 
give the fever medicine three times a day. 

COLIC, 

There arc two kinds of Colic ; Spasmodic and 
Flatulent Colic. Among the causes of Colic, are the 
drinking of cold water when the horse is heated ; 
change of feed ; exposure to cold air or a wind, af- 
ter a hard exercise. In some horses there seems to 
be a constitutional predisposition of colic. They 
cannot be hardly worked or exposed to unusual cold, 
without a fit of it. In the majority of cases of colic, 
if not relieved in a short time, it will terminate in in- 
flammation of the stomach and intestines, or a rup- 
ture of some of the internal organs. It is very im- 
portant to discriminate accurately between colic and 
inflammation of the stomach and bowels. 

Symptoms of Spasmodic Colic— Sudden in 
its attack ; pulse rarely quickened in the early per- 
iod of disease ; legs and ears -of the natural tempera- 
ture ; the animal, if at work, suddenly slackens his 
pace — prepares to lie down, or falls down as if he 
were shot, paws, looks around and points with his 
nose to the center ot the body. 

Treatment. — Care should be taken to prevent 
the animal from throwing itself upon the hard 
ground. The stomach is often ruptured when dis- 
tended with gas ; a good soft place should be select- 
ed for the animal to roll. Give as a drench, Hypos- 
ulphite of Soda, one ounce ; Laudanum, one ounce ; 
Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia, half ounce ; Tincture 



OWNER 5 GUIDE. 55 

cf Aconite Root, twenty drops; Warm Water, half 
pint. In severe cases, there is generally a frequent 
evacuation of small quantities of dung, which is hard 
and dry. In cases of this kind, there should he ad- 
ded to the above drench, Powdered Barhadoes Aloes, 
six drachms. If not relieved in half an hour, apply 
to the abdomen and flanks, Powdered Mustard 
mixed with Warm Water to form a thick cream or 
paste : rub in well with the hand. It, at the end of 
two hours, there is no abatement oi the symptoms, 
repeat the drench with the exception of the Aloes. 

FLATULENT COLIC. 

Whether occurring primarily, or subsequent to 
an attack of spasmodic colic, is a condition from which 
much more serious results arc to be apprehended 
than from the spasmodic form of the disease. 

Its causes arc — food which easily undergoes fer- 
mentation, such as green or new corn, green clover, 
brewer's grains, wheat and boiled foou. Ln this form 
of colic the expression of pain, though not so accute, 
is much more constant than in the first named form; 
the abdomen is more or less distended (bloated), the 
pulse soon becomes rapid and feeble, the breathing 
difficult and mostly thoracic, the extremities become 
cold, there is more or less delerium, the horse reels to 
and fro, twitching of the muscles, retraction of the 
lips, and if relief be not afforded, death ensues cither 
from the blood poisoning from absorption of gases, 
or rupture of some portion of the intestines. When 
the animal lies down or rolls, it is observed that it 



56 harlan's horse 

performs these acts much more carefully than when 
suffering from spasm. 

Treatment. — The same treatment as for Spas- 
modic Colic is required, If the pain is very great, 
add two ounces of Laudanum instead of one. Injec- 
tions are of great benefit in this disease, and in fact in 
all cases of colic, clysters of warm water with a little 
salt and soap added, should be thrown up the rectum 
every half hour with a large syringe or bladder, with 
a long nozzle attached to the neck of it. One favor- 
able sign of the subsidence of Colic, is free urination ; 
it shows that the spasm of the neck of the bladder has 
subsided in sympathy with the subsidence of that 
within the intestine. 

IMPACTION OF THE COLON. 

The symptoms in this disease are very similar to 
Spasmodic Colic. Animals over-abundantly fed, or 
kept upon food containing much woody fibre, arc 
liable to suffer^rom the accumulation of such matters 
in the colon and c cecum. The diagonostic characteris- 
tics of this, in addition to general abdominal pain, are a 
tendency to push backwards ; to press.the tail against 
any solid object ; to resist by violent straining the in- 
troduction of the hand into the rectum. In some cas- 
es the hard and impacted mass may be felt by the 
hand introduced into the rectum, and there is also 
some enlargement or distension of the abdomen. 

Treatment. — Should be the same as for Colic. 
An examination should be made through the rectum, 
and if a hard body is felt, and the animal is not re- 



owner's GUi£>£. 57 

lievcct with the treatment in six hours, dissolve two 
ounces of Aloes in a pint of hot water, and inject 
with a syringe having a long flexible tube. If this 
be retained for an hour or two, it generally has some 
effect ; but if immediately expelled, it ought to be re- 
peated. Bear in mind, that many horses are killed 
by the owners getting excited, and administering 
large doses of different kinds of medicine. Give the 
above remedy time to act, and you will find it is 
hardly necessary to administer the second dose. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH AND 

BOWELS. 

Many writers speak of two varieties. The 
symptoms are the same, and also the treatment. In- 
flammation is generally the termination of colic ; 
pulse very much quickened, but small, and often 
scarcely to be felt ; legs and ears cold ; belly exceed- 
ingly tender and painful to the touch ; constant pain ; 
sudden and great prostration ; the breathing is more 
hurried, and the indication of suffering more evident ; 
the eyes acquire a wild, haggard and unnatural stare 
— -the pupil dilates ; his heedless and dreadful throes 
render approach to him quite perilous. He is an 
object not only of compassion, but of apprehension, 
and seems fast hurrying to his end, when all at once, 
in the midst of agonizing torments, he stands quiet as 
though every pain had left him, and he w r ere going 
to recover. His breathing becomes tranquilized ; his 
pulse sinks beyond all perception ; his body becomes 
covered with a cold, clammy sweat ; he is in a trem- 



eg iiarlan's horse 

or from head to foot, and about the legs and ears has 
even a death-like feel ; the mouth feels deadly chilly, 
the lips drop pendulous, and the eyes seem uncon- 
scious of objects, in fact, death, not recovery is at 
hand. Mortification has seized the inflamed parts 
pain can no longer be felt in that which a few min- 
utes ago, was the seat of intense suffering. He 
again becomes convulsed, and in a few more strug- 
gles less violent than the former, he expires. The 
treatment of inflammation of the stomach and bowels, 
like that of the lungs, should be prompt and ener- 
getic. The first and most powerful means of cure 
will be the fever medicine— a teaspoonful turned up- 
on the tongue every half hour, with free application 
of the mustard, and warm water applied to the belly 
and flank. It is seldom treated with success by the 
most skillful. Cure colic, and avoid inflammation. 

BOTS. 

The history and habits of the Bot is poorly un- 
derstood among farmers and horsemen. In the spring 
months the bots pass out of the horse with the ex- 
crement. Those that are covered with ground hatch 
into the gad-fly in from four to six weeks. The fe- 
males become impregnated, and lay their eggs with- 
in reach of the horses mouth ; in a few days the eggs 
are hatched. The animal, in licking the parts cov- 
ered with eggs, causes the eggs to burst. The small 
bot attaches itself to the tongue, and is carried into 
the stomach with the food. There they remain at- 
tached to the stomach for one year. They then de- 






owner's gutde. 59 

:ach themselves and pass out. As far as our experi- 
ence goes, we have no faith in medicine to expel 
fcts. Wc can, it is true, force the medicine down a 
lorse's throat, but we cannot afterwards get it into 
he throat of the hot, who is placed in his own 
element, and can refuse the food that does not suit 
lim. Acids that would cause the death of the animal 
ipplied to them after taken from the horse, has no 
effect. Therefore the wise man will leave them to 
hemselves, as they never cause harm, and are natur- 
il to allhorses. 

CRIBBING, (WIND SUCKING). 

The act of Cribbing, consists in grasping the 
rib or a given point, with one or both jaws, at the 
ame time uttering a laryngeal sound, resembling a 
f'runt. Many of our best veterinary authors have 
urmshed different opinions on the subject ; while 
>ne contends that, in the act the horse swallows at- 
mospheric air, another contends that the animal 
jects air, which act is accompanied by a peculiar 
i.oise created by gas generated in the stomach. I 
onsider crib biting as discharging wind from the 
tomach, similar to belching in ourselves. We find 
| he anatomical structtue of the throat renders swal- 
Dwing wind impossible. 

Causes. — Indigestion, and feeding large quan- 
ities of grain when the animal is young. 

Treatment. — Give in the feed three times a 
ay— one teaspoon ful of the following : Powdered 
uilphate of Iron, Powdered Gentian, Powdered 



60 iiarlan's horse 

Ginger, Powdered Hyposulphite of Soda, of each 
two ounces ; mix. The animal must be fed from the 
floor, and the manger should be removed so as to 
prevent the animal from having a chance of cribbing. 
All patent appliances have as yet failed to effect a 
cure. 

LICE. 

These parasites are the consequences natural to 
states of filth and debility. Insects which have 
been mistaken for Lice, sometimes infest large sta- 
bles, and drive the horses frantic with the itching 
they provoke ; application after application, intended 
to destry lice, is made use of. Every recognized 
source of contagion is exterminated. Internal, as 
well as external medicine is resoited to, but every 
endeavor to remove the annoyance signally fails. 
The horses are fat and fed upon the best, yet they 
seem to have the parasites peculiar to the opposite 
condition. At last some one points to the hen roost, 
which is either in the stable, or leans against the sta- 
ble. That building is pulled down, and with it the 
nuisance disappears. 

An application of one ounce of Carbolic Acid, 
dissolved in one gallon of Rain Water, a id applied 
once a day for a few days, will destroy the Lice with- ; 
out producing the bad effect that tobacco and oils 
often do. In many cases the animal troubled with 
lice is hide-bound, and may have various other affec- 
tions, derived from the debility which generated the 
parasites. 



owner's guide, 6i 

WARTS. 

There are three different sorts of growth, all of 
which are recognized under the term "wart;" When 
the growth proves of a fixed cartilaginous kind, with 
a neck, it should be removed immediately. The 
knife or an instrument for the purpose of removing 
them, is the only remedy. If removed with a knife, 
some bleeding will follow. This may be readily 
commanded by having at hand a pan of water boil- 
ing on a small fire near by. In the heated water a 
budding iron should be placed ; on the removal of 
the wart the hot iron should be applied to the bleed - 
ine surface without any danger being- incurred of de- 
stroying the living flesh. In a few days the parts 
should be touched with Caustic Potash once in two 
or three days. The flat wort that is found on the 
shoulder and fleshy part of the body, can often be 
removed with the fingers. The parts should then be 
touched once in three days with the Caustic Potash. 
In using the caustic, care must be taken not to apply 
too freely or often ; after the caustic is applied the 
parts will turn black, and in a few days a scab can 
be removed. 

MELANOSIS. 
Gray horses, which have become paler with age, 
or have become white, are liable to a disease termed 
Melanosis. A quantity of black deposit accumulates 
m large quantities upon certain parts of the frame, 
and is often mistaken for, and called warts. There is 
one test for Melanosis, which is a pimple near the 
root of the tail ; there may only be one, or they may 



62 haulan's itorsk 

be found in great numbers. The enlargement can 
often be found on any part of the body ; it has no fixed 
abode. It is hard to the touch, and apparently de- 
void of sensibility. In this case the disease may re- 
main for one, or it may continue stationary for six 
years. It often breaks and discharges a thick black 
liquid. The only treatment is the removal with the 
knife. When too numerous around the tail there is 
no treatment that would be of any benefit. 

DISLOCATION OF THE WHIRL-BONE, OF- 
TEN CALLED DISLOCATION OF 
THE STIFLE JOINT. 



If we should believe all the stories that are told 
us of horses having their stifle out, the defficulty 

ppear 



would 



to 
occur very often, 
which in fact is not 
the case. We arc 
often called to see 
horses said to have 
their stifle out, 
which, on cxamina- 
ation, turns out to 
be a sprain of the 
limb, or an injury 
Illustration of a horse with clis- of the. foot — often a 
location of "the- whirl-bone joint. nail ; s f oun d in the 

foot. 

When there is a dislocation, it is the whirl-bone 
joint, and not the stifle joint, as is often supposed, 




OWNERS CVIDL. 6-Z 

• *-> 

The symptoms arc very plain ; the limb is extended 
back — the animal is unable to bring- it forward. (See 
illustration.) The proper method to bring the parts 
to their place is to take hold of the limb firmly, carry 
it back, then out and forward as far as possible, then 
in under the body, and let go. This will seldom fail 
to reduce the dislocation. The animal should be kept 
quiet for a few days, and the sweating liniment must 
be rubbed in well every morning for three mornings ; 
then grease well with lard the fourth morning ; the 
fifth day wash with warm water and soap, and dry 
well; then grease, and continue until all the scurf is 
removed. 

WATER FARCY. 

This disease is knowm by the swelling of the legs, 
sheath, belly, etc. In young horses the parts are hot 
and painful to the touch, while in old horses there ap- 
pears to be no pain on pressure, but the marks of the 
the fingers will remain for some time. Hand rub- 
bing and moderate exercise are very necessary, and 
bathe the parts well with hot water for one hour, 
then rub dry. Give in the feed the tonic powders, 
one teaspoonful twice a day. 

LOCKED JAW. 

This disease is the result of injuries, such as pick- 
ing up or running nails in the feet, metalic or other 
substances taken into and wounding the stomach or 
intestines. Worms are occasionally supposed to 
give rise to this disease. The first indication of its 
approach is a straggling gait of the hind legs, which 



G\ HARLAN^ HORSE 

occurs about the ninth clay. In a few days after the 
membrane, or haw of the eve will cover one-third or 
more of the eye-ball. Whenever the head is elevated, 
the muscles of the jaw becomes rigid ; the tongue 
swollen ; mouth full of saliva ; nostrils dilated ; nose 
poked out ; ears erect, and respiration becomes dis- 
turbed ; the animal very excitable ; bowels consti- 
pated ; in turning the horse, he moves without bend- 
ing his neck. The first btep in the treatment 
is to remove the patient where he will not be unnec- 
essarily disturbed. Open the bowels with a Purge 
pill. This should be done on the first symptoms be- 
ing observed as it is not often successful after the 
jaws become set. Give upon the tongue a teaspoon- 
ful of the fever medicine every hour, and apply the 
Mustard and Vinegar all along the spine from head 
to tail ; keep a pail of bran slop before the animal, 
and put one of the Purge pills in the mouth as far up 
as possible- There is no danger of giving too much. 
Continue this until the bowels arc open, and also 
give injection of socip and warm water to assist the 
operation of the medicine. When the foot has been 
injured by a nail, open the wound well, and apply a 
bran and lye poultice until a healthy action takes 



place. 



DISEASES OF THE MOUTH. 



j The bit, in reining, frequently bruises the lining 
membrane of the mouth, causing soft puffy swellings 
in the corners of the mouth. * These sores sometime" 



owner's glide. 65 

become so large as to cause some inconvenience to 
the animal in masticating his food. For their remov- 
al the parts should be freely lanced, and allowed to 
bleed undisturbed ; then bathe the parts freely with 
the following wash : Tincture myrrh, tincture aloes 
and rain water, equal parts ; mix all together. Should 
this not succeed, remove the swelling with a pair of 
scissors ; then apply the above wash two or three 
times a day until healed. 

LAMPAS. 

So long as horse owners believe '"lam pas" to be 
a disease, and men can be found to "burn it out," as 
it is sometimes termed, just so long will the error ex- 
ist and the barbarism continue. 

Lampas is a name given by writers on farriery, 
to a. swelling or unnatural prominence of some of the 
lowest ridges or bars of the palate. 

I should not have thought it worth while to have 
taken up time with this supposed malady, but that it 
has called forth the infliction of great torture on the 
animal by way of remedy ; and that it has been a 
cloak for the practice of much imposition on those 
who have been in the habit of consulting blacksmiths 
on the diseases of their horses. I allude to the cruel- 
ty and barbarity of burning the palates of horses so 
affected. Equally consistent would it be. and were 
it consistent, more requisite, to cauterize the palate 
of children who are teething, for the truth is. the pal- 
ate has no more to do with the disease, (if disease it 
can be called), than the tail has. Lampa, is neither 



65 fiAULAv\s HOUSE 

more nor less triad ii turgidity of the vessels of the 
palate, consequent upon that inflammatory condition 
of the gums, which now and then attends the process 
of teething. 

The practice of burning out or cauterizing the 
palate is a stigma upon our National character, and a 
disgrace to the professors of veterinary science. The 
supposed symptoms of lampas is rubbing of the tail, 
which may be caused by either pin- worms, dirt col- 
lecting under the tail, or constant confinement in the 
stable, 

UJLCEllS IX THE MOUTH. 

In breaking horses to harness, the under jaw im- 
mediately in front of the molar teeth is so injured by 
the bit as to cause inflammation of the periosteum, (a 
thin membrane that covers the bone,) in consequence 
of which, pipe-like openings, called sinuses arc 
formed, which, becoming filled with partly masti- 
cated food, soon become fceted, and often occasion 
sores which prove difficult to heal. When the gum 
is only injured, it should be carefully washed with 
the tincture of myrrh and aloes, equal parts. But when 
the bone is involved the diseased parts must be re- 
moved, and afterwards dressed with the following 
lotion : Gallic acid, one ounce ; tincture opium, one 
ounce ; soft water, four ounces ; mix, and bathe the 
parts affected two or three times a day, 

IRREGULAR TEETH. 

In old horses the molar teeth, or grinders, fre- 
quently become very uneven upon their grinding sur- 



owner's guide, 67 

faces, causing difficulty in masticating their food, 
The outer edges of the 
upper molars becom- 
ing sharp, cut the 
cheeks, . causing them 
to beceme sore, and 
often very much swol- 
len. (See illustration.) 
The remedy is the 
tooth-rasp, by which 
the sharp edges of the 




Head showing the molct\ 
teeth ivom to an edge* 



teeth are taken off. enabling the animal asrain to mas- 
ticate his food in a proper manner, 

SORE MOUTH. 

This is caused also, by the bearing of the bit upon 
tender-mouthed horses. It is situated at the corners 
of the mouth, often causing considerable thickening 
of the lips around the parts affected. Alum water 
should be applied to the parts three times a day, or 
the wash recommended for bags or washers may be 
applied with equal advantage. 

WOLF TEETH. 

Man}' horsemen regard these teeth as injurious 
to the eyes of the horse but we cannot understand 
upon what their opinion is based. These teeth are 
not supernumerary, as has been asserted by many 
writers, but on the contrary, arc natural to all horses. 
The germs or pulps of these teeth are in the jaw at 
the time of foaling, and are developed generally at one 
year old. ready to cut their way through the sfums, 






IIARLAJTS UORSB 



AH young animals of the equine species have these 
tpcth, and they can be found in the mouths of four 
put of five colts at two years of acre. It is only when 
the eyes arc affected by disease that these teeth are 
looked for, and when found, are supposed by some 
to be the trouble. In an experience of ten years, I 
, have not been able to discover the least connection 
between these teeth and the eyes, and what is equal- 
ly singular, these teeth arc seldom mentioned by vet- 
erinary authors. If you find them in your colts, and 
want them removed, the best way is to pull them out 
with an ordinary tooth -forceps, or they will drop out 
if they are let alone. 

CARIES OF THE TEETH. 

Horses frequently suffer from this troublesome 
disease. Caries or decay in the teeth, gives rise to 
tooth ache, the same as in man, causing symptoms 
in the horse which are 

often mistaken for oth- .^sa*-^/ 

cr affections. When 
caries has existed for 
sonic time there will 
be, as a general thing, 
a fcptid discharge from 
one nostril ; the food 
passes away in an uiv 
digested state ; partlca 
larly is this the case when whole corn has been giv- 
en ; loss of flesh, stupor, staring coat, stopping short 




Head showing a decayed 
tooth. 



in the road v 



icn 1:1 narae 



aakln 



the head and 



owner's guide. 69 

then going on again, starting as though scared, when 
no object of fear is .about. The only remedy is re- 
moval of the tooth, which generally requires the aid 
of a qualified Veterinary Surgeon, (See illustration.) 

BIG HEAD AND BIG JAW. 

This disease has a very peculiar history. It is 
exclusively American. In Europe it appears to be 
entirely unknown. It prevails most extensively in 
the South and far West. It is caries or decay of 
of the upper jaw bone. 

Causes. — In tracing out the causes which unite 
to produce big head, we find that it depends gen- 
erally upon the kind of food which the horse eats. — ■ 
In grass growing countries the disease is rare and, 
even in the infected districts, horses seldom have it if 
they have access to good pastures. It is the same 
privilege which so largely protects the young colt, 
in most instances. No one who has given the sub- 
ject any attention, can have failed to notice that the 
horse well cared for and kindly treated, is much less 
likely to contract the disease than one ill-used. Hors- 
es exclusivelv fed on corn, will often contract disea.> 
es of the jaw ; not only l *big head," but many other 
diseases. 

Symptoms. — In its very first stager, — Big Head, 
may be easily detected. Any swelling of the head 
or upper jaw ; can be seen at the first careful glance. 
The nasal bone, which lies in a direct line from the 
eye to the nose, is the one that becomes misshapen 
and betrays the presence of disease. The same 



yo harlan's horse 

symptoms will be noticed in disease of one of the 
molar teeth of the upper jaw ; a careful examination 
should be made of the mouth before any treatment is 
applied. 

Treatment for Big Head, — Should be local 
and constitutional, or internal and external, the ob- 
ject of which should be to improve the general con- 
dition of the system, and change the action in the 
parts affected. The prospects for accomplishing this 
arc better in the earlier stages of the disease. Yet the 
disease may often be overcome when it has made 
considerable progress. 

The animal should have, for. two days, soft food, 
then a purge pill, when it operates give the following 
powder : 

Powdered Hyposulphite of Soda, 3 ounces, 
" Sulphate of Iron, 3 " 

" Gentian, 3 " 

Mix. One teaspoonful in the feed three times a 
day. 

The Sweating Liniment should be applied once 
a day, for three days, on the enlargement of the nose. 
The fourth day grease with lard and continue greas- 
ing until the scurf is all removed. Let at least two 
weeks intervene, then repeat the application of the 
liniment. Care must be taken that the horse does 
not rub his head and get the liniment in his eves. If 
there is grass, let the animal out during the day. Al- 
ways take the animal up during rain stormy and at 
nigfht. 



6WN&R S GUlDt. /i 

SIMPLE INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES. 

Causes. — Foreign substances becoming lodged 
in the eye ; blows of the whip ; a severe cold : feed- 
ing corn to young colts, &c. 

Symptoms. — Weeping of the eye, swelling of 
the lid, and inability to open the eye in a bright light. 
Treatment. — - Examine the eye well to sec if any 
foreign substance has been lodged in the eve. If so 
remove it. The animal should be placed in a cool 
shed, rather darkened. Give no corn or corn -meal 
while the eye is deceased: Iced scalded shorts or bran, 
and apply to the eye twice a day. Laudanum, six 
drachms; Tincture of Aconite, two drachms: rain wa- 
ter, one pint; mix. Bleeding in the small veins just be- 
low the eve is of great benefit. Placing food on the 
ground, so as to get the head down, will cause the 
veins to fill, and they can be easily found ; by open- 
ing them thev will bleed frcelv while the head is 
kept kown. If no relief, give a purge pill, and con- 
tinue the eve wash. 
»/ 

CHRONIC OPHTHALMIA, OR MOON-EYES, 

The eyelids are seldom swollen : the eye -ball 
only seems to be involved. This is the second stage 
of inflammation of the eye. The milky appearance 
of the eye shows that there is inflammation in the 
lens of the eye. There will be periods of relief in 
this disease, hence it is often called moon-blindness. 

Treatment, — The same as simple inflammation. 
Give a purge pill, use the eye wash, and place a seton 
just back of the eye, between the eye and the ear, 



7.3 if ARLAN S HORSE 

Give, in the feed, one teaspounful twice a clay, of the 
following mixture ; Powdered Colchicum Seed, tw r o 
ounces ; Powdered Saltpetre, one ounce. Mix. 

DISTEMPER. 

This is a very common disease in the western 
country, and highly contagious. The term, how- 
ever, is used by all horsemen to denote all classes of 
catarrhal affections, a common cold, influenza, bron- 
chitis, etc., arc all included under the above heading. 
We are not disposed, however, to believe that the 
term distemper covers so broad a field. When you 
find your horse having the distemper bathe the throat 
well twice a day with the mustard paste, and give 
the cough powders, one teaspoonful morning and 
evening. Do not allow the horse to get wet. When 
the swelling under the jaw becomes soft, lance it ; 
sometimes it is necessary to lance on both sides. — > 
Feed soft food. 

SORE THROAT. 

This is usually an accompaniment of a catarrhal 
affection. It sometimes occurs independent of any 
such disease ; it is then known as Laryngitis. 

Symptoms. — Stiffness of the neck, cough, difficulty 
in swallowing, mouth full of saliva, with more or less 
fever. 

Treatment. The saau as for Distemper. 

Bathe the throat with the Mustard paste, and give 
the Cough powders, 






owner's guide. 73 

CATARRHAL FEVER. 

This is a very common disease, but it appears 
that horsemen arc ignorant of its nature. It is simply 
a severe cold and usually follows exposure to cold 
drafts of air after a hard drive. 

The symptoms are not uniform, usually the ani- 
mal will be dull and stupid, refuse all kinds of food, 
but will drink often. The pulse varies from sixty to. 
ninety per minute. There is a hollow and very dis- 
tressing cough. There is sometimes great prostra- 
tion, "manifested by a staggering gait. It generally 
produces great debility. 

Treatment.— Give upon the tongue every 
evening one drachm of Dover powder and give 
morning and noon one teaspoonful of the fever med 
icine until the frequency of the pulse is reduced to 
its natural condition. To allay the cough give the 
Cough powders two or three times daily, and apply 
mustard to the throat the same as recommended for 
distemper. After the symptoms arc abated, if there 
is debility, give tonics such as the Tonic powders, 

NASAL GLEET . 

This is usually the result of neglected catarrh. 
It is attended with a chronic discharge, from one or 
both nostrils, of a thin white mucus. The animal's 
health is usually good, feeding and working as if in 
perfect health. 

Treatment. — The only treatment which has 
proved successful has been en the tonic principle, 
Giye the Tonic jDowders night and morning. Take 



74 HARLAN S HORSE 

Glycerine, two ounces ; Carbolic acid, one-half 
ounce ; Rain water, one quart. Mix, and swab the 
nostrils. For a swab take a piece of whale-bone 
fourteen inches long, tie a small piece of sponge over 
the end, being sure the end is well protected. This 
will make a good swab. 

CATARRHAL INFLUENZA. 

Influenza is a catarrhal complaint, accompanied 
by a low grade of fever, assuming at different seasons 
different types. It belongs to an important class of 
complaints known as epizootic. It extended over 
the United States in the year 1873 and attacked in a 
similar manner a great number of animals. In these 
complaints there is a great tendency to assume the 
typhoid form, and they withstand badly all depletive 
treatment. They depend upon some general cause, 
as yet unknown, hut which it has been usually 
thought sufficient to term " atmospheric, " but are al- 
most most common among animals breathing impure 
air, densely crowded, badly fed, or exposed to cold 
winds, and are generally robbed of their violence by 
guarding against such debilitating causes and main- 
taining a high standard of general health. 

Symptoms. — The earliest and most prominent 
symptom is weakness, soon followed by loss of ap- 
petite, shivering, a dry, staring coat, a dull, sickly ap- 
pearance, a quick, weak pulse, and an occasional 
short cough with discharges from the nostrils. 

Treatment. — Rub the throat well with the 
Mustard paste and give internally one teaspoonful of 



OWNER S GUIDE. 75 

the following three times a day on the tongue : Fluid 
Extract of Belladonna, two ounces ; Tincture of Ac- 
onite Root, one-half ounce. - Mix. When the horse 
will eat give one teaspoon ful of the Tonic Powder on 
the food three times a day, and if the animal is able 
give moderate exercise once or twice a day. 

CHRONIC COUGH. 

By this term is understood a cough that comes 
on without anv fever or evidence ot the horse having 
taken cold. 

Treatment. — Spirits of Turpentine, two oun- 
ces ; Mucilage Acacia, six ounces ; Gum Ammoni- 
acurri, one-half ounce ; Laudanum, four ounces ; Wa- 
ter, two quarts. Mix, and give, after shaking, one- 
half pint as a drench every night ; or use the Cough 
powders, one teaspoonful three times a day. 

HEAVES OR BROKEN WIND. 

This disease is so well known that it does not 
require any special remark. It is often the result of 
a badly treated case of distemper or catarrhal dis- 
ease, and is of the same" nature as the asthma affect- 
ing the human species. By placing the ear to the 
throat a rattling sound can be distinctly heard, which 
proves that there is an obstruction in the air passages. 
A number of remedies have been recommended, but 
all are only palliatives. 

Treatment. — Feed no hay ; give straw instead. 
Give the remedv recommended for chronic cough. 
By this treatment a great improvement can be made. 



76 harlan's iiors£ 

One pint of warm lard with half an ounce of strong 
Camphorated Spirits, will relieve the animal for a 
few days. Balsam of Fir, four ounces ; Balsam Co- 
paiva, four ounces ; Calcined Magnesia, sufficient to 
make eight pills. Give one night and morning. This 
is said to be a sure cure. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 

This disease occurs in the Spring and Fall, and 
is known to horsemen as Lung Fever. 

Symptoms. — Pulse quick and full ; mouth hot ; 
the animal hangs his head in or under the manger ; 
legs and ears cold ; appetite lost ; breathing quick : 
on applying the ear to the side a crackling sound is 
heard. 

This disease requires prompt treatment, as it fre- 
quently terminates in pleuro pneumonia. Give one 
tcaspoonful of the fever medicine on The tongue ev- 
c'ry half hour until four or five doses arc given, then 
give every two hours. The legs should be well hand 
rubbed and bandaged with flinnel bandages ; rub the 
sides of the chest with Mustard and Vinegar, well 
mixed. Keep the lursc where there is plenty of 
fresh air. Do not load the auim.il with blankets ; 
one is all that is required. Avoid all noise ; keep the 
animal quiet. A bucket of cold water should be kept 
within reach of the anim iTs head until recovery. 

The symptoms of reovery are : The horse Will 
lie down at night the legs will become warm ; appe- 
tite improved. The Tonic Powders should be given, 
one teaspoonfui three times a d.iy for one week- If 






OWNER S GLIDE. 7/ 

the bowels are very costive give injections of warm 
water, with a little soap and salt. In twelve to four- 
teen hours, of the animal is not properly treated, the 
pleura will become involved. It is then called 

PLEUilO-PXEUMOXl.V. 

Involving the lining membrane of the chest or 
covering of the lungs, as well as the tissue of the lung 
itself. The symptoms are the same as Lung Fever, 
with pawing, looking at the sides ; pain on pressure 
over the ribs, a peculiar grunt when the horse is 
backed or turned around. 

The same treatment as in inflammation of the 
lungs is called for. If not properly treated it will 
terminate in 

IIYDROTHORAX OR DROPSY Ol- THE CHEST. 

This is the third and last stage of lung fever, and 
always terminates in death. The symptoms are, 
swelling of the hind legs and u>ider the belly.' mouth 
cold ; by placing the ear to the chest a splashing can 
be heard as if the lung's were moving in water. — ■ 
There is no treatment- — death will relieve the animal 
in a short time. 

BRONCHITIS. 

This is an inflammation of the mucus lining of 
the bronchial tubes, an J, although occasionally exist- 
ing as a separate disease, is more commonly associa- 
ted with diseases of the lungs. 

Symptoms.-— Tenderness of the throat, a short, 
painful cough, breathing quick ; a short, quick pulse : 
a rattling sound which is easily heard when the ear 



/ HARLAN S HORSE 

is applied to the lower part of the neck or' side of 
the chest. 

Treatment. — A comfortable, well littered, loose 
box or shed with plenty of cool fresh air, are the 
first essentials in the treatment of bronchitis, and in- 
deed of all chest diseases. I have repeatedly seen a 
sick horse's pulse fall eight or ten beats per minute 
in the course of an hour after being put in a cool 
shed or box stall. 

Without fresh air all medical treatment is com- 
paratively valueless. Give one teaspoonful of the 
fever medicine every hour until four doses are given, 
then every three hours ; the mustard and vinegar 
should be applied from the jaws to the breast, the 
legs well hand- rubbed and bandaged, and a light blan- 
ket kept on the horse. If the weaknesss increases give 
one ounce each of Sweet Spirits of Nitre and Aro- 
matic Spirits of Ammonia in half a pint of cold wa- 
ter three times a day. 

THUMPS— SPASMS OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 

This is generally provoked by the heedlessness 
of the rider or driver. 

Symptoms. — Distress, and a strange noise heard 
from the center of the horse. 

Treatment. — Give, as soon as possible, Sul- 
phuric Ether, two ounces ; Laudanum, one ounce ; 
Tincture of Camphor, one-half ounce ; Cold Water, 
one pint. Repeat every quarter of an hour until 
four doses are given, or the horse recovers. Hand* 



OWNER S GUIDE. 79 

rub and bandage the legs, and sponge the head and 
nostrils with cold water. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 

It usually results from the eating of. musty, damp 
or heated hay ; from hard water, to which the horse 
is unaccustomed ; occasionally from large doses of 
diuretic medicine, and strains of the muscles of the 
back or loins. The horse is feverish, his pulse quick, 
often reaching ioo ; he strains, straddles in his gait, 
and voids high colored, and sometimes blood v urine. 

Treatment.— Give twice a day, as a drench, 
fluid extract of Buchu, one-half ounce ; Balsam of 
Cope via, one drachm ; water, one- half pint. Apply 
\he Mustard and vinegar over the kidneys. 

This remedy should be given in all diseases of 
ihc urinary organs. 

If the pulse is excited, give a teaspoonful of the 
Fever Medicine every two hours ; also place a fresh 
sheepskin (with the newly-flayed surface down,) 
over the loins, replacing it if possible every six hours* 
warm clothing to other parts of the body ; frictior 
and bandages to the leo*s ; a mash diet, and two 
ounces of Bicarbonate of Soda, to be stirred in the 
water he drinks. 

RETENTION OF THE URINE. 
This is often caused by the irritation of the neck 
of the bladder, or a dislike to splatter the legs. Shake 
up the litter under the animal and thev will often 
urinate freely, unless the retention is the result of 
(Tiseasp, 



Ho harlan's house 

Symptoms. — Are much the same as colic ; paw- 
ing, lying down, with constant efforts to urinate, 
without being able to void urine. 

Treatment. — First empty the bladder. This 
will give immediate relief. Introduce the hand up 
the rectum, having the hand well greased with lard : 
the bladder lying immediately under the rectum, 
there will be no trouble in finding it. If the bladder 
is filled with the urine, press down upon it gentlv, 
and if there is only inflammation of the neck of the 
bladder the urine will flow freely. If there is cal- 
culi or a stone lodged in the parts, an operation must 
be performed for the removal of the stone. This 
will require the assistance of a competent veterinarv 
surgeon. When the bladder is emptied, give Fluid 
Extract of Buchu, one-half ounce ; Balsam of Co- 
paiva, two drachms ; mix in half pint of water, - and 
give as a drench. Repeat twice a day if necessary. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. 

Colds, irritating substances or foreign bodies in 
the bladder. 

Symptoms.— Pawing, lying down, pointing with 
the nose well back in the flank. The animal will sel- 
dom roll as in colic. Pulse full and strono-. Urina 
ting often but little at a time. The urine has a very 
dark color. 

Treatment. — Apply Mustard mixed with warm 
water over the flanks ; give sweet Spirits of Nitre, 
one and a half ounces ; Extract of Hyoscyamus, 
(Henbane), two drachms ; Lav.d.mum, one-half 



owner's guide. 8 1 

ounce ; Cold Water, half pint. Mix. Give as a 
drench twice a day. 

DIABETES OR PROFUSE STALING. 

This disease occurs especially during the hot 
weather, when horses naturally drink most, and 
among hard-working subjects. 

Causes. — The same as inflammation of the kid- 
neys; and drinking when hot and exhausted. 

SYMPTOMS-Thirst the principal one, being almost 
unquenchable. The urine is very abundant ; it is 
clear and colorless. The horse falls off in condition, 
his coat is rough and staring; his appetite, at first 
voracious, fails, and the disease, if not checked, often 
leads to various constitutional diseases. 

Treatment. — Give twice a day as a drench the 
following mixture: Iodide of Potassium, one drachm ; 
Iodine, one scruple ; Carbonate of Soda, four 
drachms ; Warm Water, one-half pint. Mix. 

CALCULI, OR STONE IN THE BLADDER. 

A horse may have these deposits in the bladder 
long time before they occasion any very serious 
disturbance in the system. 

Symptoms. — Frequent efforts to stale, but void- 
ing the urine in very small quantities at a time, which 
is usually of a turbid yellow, or thick, whitish color ; 
colicky pains are often observed — the animal kicks 
its belly, paws, looks at its sides, and on changing its 
position, frequently gets relief. 

Treatment. — Give twice a dav one drachm of 



o2 Harlan's iiorse 

Muriatic Acid in a pail of water. Should this fail to 
give relief, an operation must be performed for the 
removal of the stone. This will require the assist- 
ance of a competent veterinary surgeon, 

HIDE BOUND. 

This is often caused by some slight disturbance 
in the system, occasionally from the action of woims, 
without producing any marked symptoms of disease, 
In all such cases the Tonic Powder is to be used. If 
the animal is not weak, give Barbadoes Aloes, one 
ounce; Gentian, one drachm; Ginger, one drachm, 
with molasses sufficient for a pill. A run at grass is 
of £reat benefit. 

MANGE. 

This disease is identical with th.it of itch in man. 
It is caused by a very minute insect, called acari 
equas. The skin about the neck becomes parched ; 
the hair comes off in spots, causing scabby patches ; 
there is an intolerable itching, causing the animal to 
be almost constantly rubbing itself against a post, 
tree, etc. 

Treatment. — Select n clear, warm day ; place 
the animal in the sun, and with a srubbing-brush 
wash or scrub him all over with Castile Soap and 
water. When dry, take one quart of Sweet Oil and 
two ounces of Coal Oil. Mix well together ; wet a 
brush with the oil, and rub him all over. It docs not 
require to be put on very thick ; in fact, it is better 
not to be so, 



bWKEii's GLIDE. O^ 

SURFEIT. 

This disease considerably resembles the Nettle- 
rash iii children, and, like it, usually proceeds from 
derangement of the digestive organ.. Suddeii 
changes of food and copious draughts of water 
sometimes produce it ; but it often comes on sudden- 
ly and without any obvious cause, is most common 
in Spring and Autumn, and occasionally becomes 
epizootic. Tumors about the size of small beans, and 
containing a watery fluid suddenly appear over the 
body or limbs, sometimes causes much itching, but, 
unlike many other skin affections, are not contagious. 

Treatment. — Give a Purge Pill, then feed the 
Condition Powders — a tablcspoonful twice a day, or 
powdered Hyposulphite of Soda, a teaspoonful three 
times a da v. 

JAUNDICE, OR YELLOW WATER. 

This disease is known by a yellowish appear- 
ance of the skin, which is caused by the bile not be- 
ing carried off from the liver in the natural way ; 
but, it is taken into the blood, and spread through the 
whole system. This yellowness can only be seen 
where the skin is not covered with hair ; but every 
part of the skin, fat, flesh, and every part through 
which the blood flows, if it could be examined, would 
be found tinged with the ycllowncsss of the bile. 

Symptoms. — The first symptoms that will likely 
be noticed are yellowness around the mouth, nose and 
eyes, and of the urine or water. These symptoms 
will show the ease to be one of jaundice. But, be- 



$4 HARLAN S HORSE 

fore these' feyiliptoms are observed, other appear- 
ances of illness may have been noticed ; such as be- 
ing lazy or sluggish in his movements, and drooping 
the head when standing. As the disease progresses, 
the horse loses his strength, hangs his head, his eye- 
lids close, and his spirits decrease generally ; he reels 
when walking and may even fall ; his breathing is 
affected, and his pulse increases in frequency, the 
bowels are costive, the dung hard, and covered with 
a yellow mucus. The urine through the whole cours 
of the disease is scant and yellow. 

Treatment. — Give a pill of Barbadoes Aloes, 
six drachms ; Calomel, one drachm ; mix with a lit- 
tle water. If the horse is not relieved, repeat in ten 
days. 

DIARRHOEA 

This disease is sometimes caused by the too free 
use of cathartic medicines, change of water, expos- 
ure to cold, etc. 

Treatment. — Give one teaspoon ful of the Fe- 
ver Medicine every two hours, until four doses arc 
given ; then give Pulverized Opium, one scruple ; 
Pulverized Gentian Root, one drachm ; Ginger, one 
drachm ; mix. Give every six hours until relieved. 

WORMS. 

All animals are subject to these parasites, and 
thousands of animals arc annualy lost without the 
cause being suspected. 

Symptoms. — Staring coat, haggard eye, colicky 
pains, gasping, debility, sluggish movements ; skin 



Li 



owner's guide. 05 

covered with scurfy blotches ; umall, feeble pulse ; 
belly tucked up ; breathing slow ; a peculiar, pallid 
appearance of the membrane lining the mouth ; ir- 
r egular appetite ; badly digested faeces ; agitation of 
the heart ; dung covered with a mucus substance ; a 
whitish or yellowish white substance about the fund- 
ament ; rubbing the tail, etc. These symptoms do 
not all appear in the same animals. 

Treatment. — Use the Worm Powders the 

best remedy known for worms. Give one teaspoon- 
fnl twice a day, for four or six days, in bran ; scald 
the bran, if possible ; then give one of the Purge 
Pills. 

POLL EVIL. 

This disease occurs in horses only when the 
blood is in a morbid condition. Causes, a bruise on 
the top of the head from a low doorway, pulling on 
the halter, or a blow of a whip, &c. 

Symptoms.— Swelling of the parts with heat 
and great tenderness which will remain for weeks, 
sometimes months, before it breaks. 

Treatment. — A Purge Pill should be given im- 
mediately. Bathe the parts with the Veterinary 
Liniment twice a day until all fever is removed. Ii 
the swelling is not entirely removed, use the Sweat- 
ing Liniment once a day for three days ; this will 
either bring- it to a head or remove the swelling en- 
tirely. Should matter form, the parts should be well 
laid open with the knife, so that the matter will run 
out as fast as it forms. A svringe should be usetl to 



86 harlan's house 

clean the parts out well with castilc soap and rain 
water ; then dress the parts with Glycerine, four 
ounces ; Carbolic Acid, one ounce ; mix, and apply 
once a day. 

A NEW REMEDY FOR FISTULA AND 
POLL EVIL. 

It is claimed that this remedy will cure without 
the use of the knife. It is worth a trial, at least, with 
those who cannot use the knife, Make a strong de- 
coction from about a gallon of May-apple roots. — 
Take a gallon of the roots and add water sufficient 
to cover them, boil until you obtain a thick syrup — 
taking care not to burn it. While still boiling, add 
one-fourth as much old bacon or lard as you have syr- 
up, remembering to stir all the time ; remove from 
the tire and preserve for use. 

Use. — This liniment is used in cases of ulcers 
and tumors where matter has formed. It is an ex- 
cellent remedy for Fistula and Poll Evil in their sec- 
ond stage ; that is, when suppuration or festering 
has set in. It is slow in its action, but very certain if 
properly used. The use of this liniment will produce 
effects really astonishing to one who has never be- 
fore witnessed it. 

Application.— A thin coating of this should be 
spread over the whole surface of the tumor each 
morning, and carefully washed off at night, after 
which any old grease that may be at hand should be 
well rubbed on. This treatment should be continued 
for three or four days, or until matter forms in the lit- 



owxkpJs guide. 87 

tic fissures of the crusted skin. When the pus bc- 
gins to ooze out freely, the liniment may be gradually 
increased in quantity, and allowed to remain as long 
as a day and a night, but never more than this. At 
the end of another twenty-four hours it may again be 
applied freely. It must always be washed off thor- 
oughly before the grease is rubbed on with a cloth 
and warm, strong soap-suds. At first it occasions a 
severe burning and itching, so that the horse will re- 
quire careful fastening to prevent him from rubbing 
it off. After suppuration has once fairly begun, how- 
ever, lie will stand in one place for hours together, 
apparently in the enjoyment of great relief. 

FISTULA OF THE WITHERS. 

This disease is precisely similar to Poll Evil, its 
location only giving' it a different name ; it occurs 
more frequently than Poll Evil, arises from the same 
causes, and requires the same treatment. 

STOMACH STAGGERS. 

This is the result of an overloaded stomach press- 
ing upon the heart and lungs ; it is caused by keep- 
ing a horse that is a hearty feeder up without any 
exercise, and feeding all the hay and dry feed that it 
will eat. 

SvmptoaIs. — The animal appears dull and stupid, 
with a tendency to push forward, unless supported 
by a wall, manger, tree or other object ; constipation 
of the bowels accompanies this disease. In the sec- 
ond stage the horse is constantly asleep and it k; then 
termed sleepy staggers y it will re j til re consider.iYe 



§8 Harlan's horse 

noise and pulling to get the animal to wake up ; thev 
will often take a mouthful of hay and attempt to eat 
but will all at once fall asleep with the hay in the 
mouth. 

Treatment.— -A Purge Pill should be given 
immediately ; a pint of Linseed Oil with twenty 
drops of Croton Oil given immediately after ; rub 
and bandage the legs ; rub the entire body ; give in- 
jections of warm Soap Suds and a handful of salt ; 
keep the animal moving around. If no relief, the 
disease will often terminate in inflammation of the 
brain or what is known as mad staggers. The ani- 
mal now becomes indifferent to all about him ; plun- 
ges about, destroying everything in his way that will 
yield to his struggles. There is no treatment ; death 
will soon relieve the animal. 

BROKEN OR THICK WIND. 

Regarding the nature of the disease, thick wind, 
which, however, is a very funny name for a patho- 
logical condition of this character, it is a diseased 
condition of the respiration, generally located in the 
nasal cavity, sometimes affecting stallions with thick 
necks, often discovered after an attack of distemper, 
or throat disease, and scarcely affecting the general 
health of the animal ; is often caused by contraction 
of the cartilages of the nose. 

Relief can frequently be obtained by inserting a 
small sponge wet with wa'er, up the nose ; Pressing 
it up towards the top o c th? nos?. If properly ap- 






OWNERS DULDE. 89 

plied, and not shoved too far up, it will enlarge the 
opening of the nostril so that the air can escape 
without the rattling noise. In stallions frequent blan- 
ket sweats around the neck will be of great benefit, 
and often give reliaf. 

CHOKING. 

Choking very rarhly occurs in horses, very fre- 
quently in cattle. If choking should occur in the 
horse there is very little chance or hope of saving his 
life ii not attended to immediately. If a ball or other 
substance stick in the passage to the stomach, and it 
has passed down some distance, it is called low 
choke, and is not so dangerous as if it sticks in the 
entrance to the gullet — high choke. 

Treatment. — Move the animal sharply ; if no 
relief, cause him to jump over some obstruction. If 
this fails, pour a little cold water in one of the ears. 
this I have often tried, and met with success in many 
cases. If no relief press down with the hand over 
the substance in the gullet, and try to move it. Do 
this not too strongly, but continue it for a time. Ad- 
minister one pint of linseed oil, melted lard, or syrup 
ofa«ykind. If these should fail after a good trial 
then have the gullet opened right over the substance 
and take it out, and put in two or three stitches with 
strong saddlers' silk. Remember the anatomical 
structure of the horses' and cattle's throat is different ; 
we dare not attempt to introduc2 a prob or whip 
handle in the horse's throat. 



go HARLAN S HORSE 

DEBILITY. 

This is a condition accompanying many diseases 
— hence the necessity of guarding against any meas- 
ure in the treatment, even in the disease of an exalted 
kind, that will reduce the strength. The animal thus 
afTected rapidly becomes weak and debilitated to such 
an extent that it may cost his life. 

Symptoms. — Swelling of the legs, sheath, breast 
and belly ; distended breathing ; the horse is very 
weak, and easily pushed off the feet by the hand. 
Indeed, he staggers as he walks, and sometimes falls 
to the ground. 

Causes. — Bleeding or giving physic (a purge) 
when the animal is already weak, and especially in 
diseases of the chest ; starving and low diet given to 
a sick horse, when he should be supported in the 
midst of his sickness by good feeding. The very ne- 
glect, or want of knowledge on this point has killed 
thousands of horses that would have lived ; that have 
been sacrificed at the shrine of ignorance, error and 
bad judgement. This condition of things in relation 
to the treatment of the horse, and indeed of all our 
faithful animals, may be ascribed to the diligence and 
presistence of our American publishers deluging the, 
country with reprints that should never have been 
written. 

Treatment. — Give plenty of good feed to the 
maltreated animal, and give the following blood-mak- 
ing medicine : Powdered Sulphate of Iron, three 
ounces : Gentian Root, three ounces. Mix, and di- 



myxmi's guide. 9t 

vide into twenty-lour powders, and give one powder 
night and morning. If there is much swelling about 
the body, add live grains of powdered Spanish Fly 
to the evening powder for a few nights only. Be 
assured the animal is fully restored before put to hard 
work. 

BROKEN KNEES. 

When a horse stumbles and falls upon his knees. 
and takes the hair and some of the skin off, this is 
called broken Knees. 

Treatment. — Wash and cleans the parts from 
sand and dirt, and if the skin is ragged and torn clip 
off with a good pair of scissors. After this is done 
ascertain if there is any discharge from the sore, of 
an oily substance, and if so get a smooth piece of iron, 
immerse it for ten minutes in boiling water, and ap- 
ply it to the edges of the wound, so as to cause the 
parts to swell, and prevent the escape of the joint oil ; 
for if this be allowed to escape irritation and inflam- 
mation will set in, and either destroy the life of the 
horse, or make an anchylosed cr stiff joint. This is 
an important point to be observed, and that very 
early in all cases of broken knees, or open joints, 
wherever situated. After the hot iron has been ap- 
plied, use the following wash twice a day. Sulphate 
of Zinc, half ounce ; Rain Water, one quart. Mix. 
This will heal the sore and prevent proud flesh from 
growing. This wasli will answer for the more sim- 
ple wound of the knee, and where there is no open 
joint. Do not apply bandages, as they will cause the 



92 HARLAN S HORSE 

whole leg to inflame and swell. Sometimes a kine 
of pouch will be formed by the lower edge of the 
wound, holding whatever pus or other fluid which 
may escape. This j>ouch should be opened at its 
lowest bottom so as to let the fluids out, and to pre- 
vent a bulge or permanent swelling remaining after 
the knees had otherwise healed. By attention to this 
very little or no blemish or scar will be left to tell the 
tale of a stumbling horse, or a bad horseman. 

DISEASES OF THE EAR. 

Sometimes tumors of various shapes and sizes 
are seen in the ear of the horse, producing a kind of 



canker in that organ 

Symptoms. — Shaking of ihe head ; will not let 
much familiarity be made with it ; running or start- 



o 



mg back when the collar is being taken over the ears. 

Causes. — Irritation and inflammation of the 
skin of the car, producing small pimples of proud 
flesh. 

Treatment. — Remove with the knife, scissors, 
or caustic ; then apply the Simple Ointment, as for 
simple sores. 

DISEASES OF THE HEART. 

Of diseases of the heart little need be said, and 
as little can be done in the way of cure ; so all I pro- 
pose under this head is merely to name a few of the 
atered conditions of the heart, which are all em- 
braced in the sweeping term " Heart Disease. " 

i. Enlargement of the heart. 

2; Wasting or shrinking of the heart. 



OWNER S GUIDE. 03 

3. Foreign bodies in the heart. 

4. Fatty degeneration of the heart. 
^. Inflammation of the heart. 
6. Ossification of the heart. 
Such, then, are some of the distinctions made, 

when speaking of diseases of the heart. For which 
there is no treatment. 

SPRAINS. 

By this term is meant partial displacement ; the 
twisting of a joint with more or less injury to the ar- 
ticulations, ligaments, tendons and their sheaths. At 
times small portions of the bones of the joint arc sep- 
arated. Indeed, every variety and degree of severity 
is to be seen in sprains of different parts. Every 
joint is liable to sprain, but the usual or more com- 
mon sprains will be found in the pastern or fetlock 
foini, shoulder and its joints, hock, stifle, back and 
loins, flexor tendon, suspensory ligaments, etc., pro- 
duced by a common cause, such as slipping, falling, 
overwork, the weight of the body, and not unfre- 
quently the load falling upon a part, when not in its 
proper position for receiving it. 

Treatment. — Absolute and entire rest, is the 
principal point to be attended to in the cure of 
sprains, for a sprain cannot be cured without rest, no 
matter what other remedies are employed ; ajnd, if 
there be much fever and excitement about the horse, 
a few doses of Aconite will have to be given. Tinc- 
ture of Aconite Root, fifteen drops, given three 
times a day for a few days, will remove fever r.n.l i 



9-j Harlan's horse 

ritation. Then apply warm water with cloths for a 
few days, followed by cold water with cloths, the 
same length of time, taking the cloths off at night. 
It is necessary that the water must be poured on the 
cloths every hour, or before the warm ones become 
cold, and the cold ones become warm. After which 
the lameness and swelling will have ceased ; or 
should this not cure the case, apply for a few days, 
once a day, the following liniment : Creosote, one 
ounce ; Oil of Turpentine, one ounce ; Oil of Olives, 
two ounces. Mix. Be sure the horse is quite well 
before he is put to work again. 

ROWELS. 

An old-fashioned operation, consisting in an 
opening made through the skin for a few inches in 
length, the skin being raised from its attachments, 
and a piece of leather fitting the cavity placed into 
it, so that a discharge is set up in a day or two. — 
Times were when this unnecessary cruelty was fre- 
quently inflicted upon the poor unoffending horse, 
but in this humane and progressive age, we only oc- 
casionally meet with the barbarity. Rowels are an 
abomination, and inflict a scar or blemish which ne\ 
er leaves the part. The stupidity and ignorance of 
horse doctors generally, do not allow them to see 
that the powers of nature are more potent for good 
in curing the affection than a rowel, to which is at 
tributed a power or virtue it never possesses. 

SETONS. 
A ]}iece of tape placed under the skin by mean 



OWNERS GUIDE. A- 



of a needle, made for the purpose, Setons arc rarely 
of use, and are often torn violently out makino- an 
ugly sore. 

CHILL. 
The term means a shiver, as if the horse was 
cold. This is the way many diseases and fevers arc 
ushered in. If the chill be checked soon, it will stop, 
in many cases, the disease that was forming. For 
this purpose give twenty drops of Tincture of Ac- 
nite Root, in a wine glass full of water ; give as a 
drench; cover the body with a blanket and rub the 
legs to bring the circulation to the surface of the 
body, and all will be well. 

SPRING HALT. 

We need give no description of the action or pe- 
culiar gait of a horse said to have spring halt ; the 
greatest novice easily detects it, and seldom fails to 
make objections to purchase an animal thus affected. 
Like cribbing, wc seldom know anything of the ori- 
gin and progress of these cases, although we have 
remedies that will palliate, and often cure. 

It is caused by a severe strain o ■ want of exer- 
cise, the circulation of the blood being very slow and 
feeble ; there is a loss of moisture : a fluid which is 
commonly called joint water. 

Treatment.— Bandage the legs with flannel 
bandages, while the animal is in the stable, or make 
a small hole through the hide between the stifle and 
the hip joint and introduce a quill and blow air un- 
derneath the skin, force the air to the foot, and hand- 



q6 SiARLAN g nonstt 

rub well. This has often effected a cure, but we 
don't claim it will cure all cases of spring halt. 

RUPTURE. 

The protrusion of some portion of the bowels or 
intestines out of their proper place. The groin, the 
navel, sides of the belly and scrotum, or testicle ba^, 
arc the places whore ruptures usually show them- 
selves, and it is the variety of situation that gives 
rise to many species of ruptures, or hernia. 

INGUINAL, OR SCROTAL RUPTURE. 
When this kind of rupture takes place, it is in 
stallions and uncast rated' colts, and requires for its 
cure the castration of U12 horse or colt by what is 
called the covered operation, that is, by leaving the 
Tunica Vaginalis, or inner covering of the testes, en- 
tire and uncut, and placing the clamps over it, allow- 
ing the testes or stones to fall off, or be removed in 
two days from the time of the operation. As soon as 
this kind of rupture is discovered, have the horse or 
colt castrated at once. 

CONGENITAL RUPTURE. 

This is a species of rupture observed at the birth 
of the foal or colt, and is the least dangerous of all 
the varieties of ruptures, although the rupture con- 
tinues to grow and increase in size until the fourth to 
the sixth month of the colt's age, and then gradually 
disappears altogether. 

Treatment. — The only way to reduce such a 
rupture is, gather the loose skin over the rupture, and 



A 



OWNER G GUIDE 



n 



tic a strong waxed twine around it after the bowel has 
been pushed into its place ; in time the part will 
slough off that has been tied up, and the parts will 
be healed up. This treatment will answer in all small 
ruptures. 

GENERAL REMARKS. 

The termination of ruptures ot all kinds or vari- 
eties most to be dreaded is that condition known as 
strangulation, which occurrence is indicated by the 
pawing, rolling, sweating and restive condition of 
the horse, etc. If not relieved in a very short time 
he will die. To reduce strangulation he must be se- 
cured and fastened ; and'all conceivable ingenuity 
must be exercised to get the bowels back into their 
proper place. No rule can be laid down to accom- 
plish this, as some ruptures are reducible, and others 
are not. But the hands of the operator must be well 
oiled when handling the bowels, and the bowels kept 
scrupulously dean, and when they have been suc- 
cessfully placed into their proper cavity, the horse 
will be at rest and relieved from pain. " To prevent 
the bowels from returning again the rupture must be 
closed by skewers made of iron or stiff wood, passed 
through the lips of each side of the wound, half an 
mch from the edge, with waxed cord wound round 
and over the skewers in the form of a figure S It is 
best, if possible to secure the services of a competent 
V etermary surgeon in cases of this kind. 

WOUNDS. 

A lacerated wound is generally accompanied by 



Harlan's iiokse 

contusion, but with little bleeding. Shosk of the 
system is the worst of its primary effects. The dan- 
ger springs from collapse. A slough may probably 
follow. The slough is dangerous in proportion as it 
is tardy. The animal may bleed to death if the body 
is much debilitated. 

Treatment. — -Attend first to the system. — If 
there is great pain, give a drink composed of sulphu- 
ric Ether and Laudanum, of each one ounce ; Water 
half pint. Repeat in one hour if necessary, or until 
the shivering has ceased. A poultice made of bran 
and weak lye may be applied for a short time. When 
slough has fallen apply as a wash, Chloride of Zinc, 
one grain, to the ounce of water. 

An incised wound produces little, shock. The 
danger is immediate, as the animal may bleed to 
death. 

Treatment. — Do not move the animal. Dash 
the part with cold water, or direct upon the bleeding 
surface a current of wind from a bellows. When 
the bleeding has ceased, and the surfaces are sticky, 
draw the edges together with divided sutures. 
When the sutures begin to drag cut them. After 
copious suppuration has been established, bathe the 
parts frequently with the solution of Chloride of 
Zinc. 

A punctured wound is dangerous, as the parts in- 
jured are liable to motion. On this account, those 
above the stifle are very hazardous, because the small 
hole in the skin generally bears no proportion to the 
internal injury, • 



owner's guide. * 99 

Treatment. — Always enlarge the external 
opening to afford egress to all sloughs and pus. Reg 
ulate the foci by the symptoms, and use the Chlor- 
ide of Zinc lotion. 

CARE OF MARES WITH FOAL, 

A mare should never be worked in a circle, or 
horse power when with foal, as experience has taught 
us that it displaces the colt. The mare should 
be well cared for ; give her plenty of exercise, but 
not hard or fast work ; a large shed should be pre- 
pared in time for the mare. When she shows symp- 
toms of foaling she should be placed in the shed en- 
tirely alone, and in most cases will get along without 
assistance. Should the mare need help, do not.apply 
to all your neighbors, as often strangers in and around 
the stable, will excite the mare so that nothing can be 
done for her. Do not permit different ones to make 
an examination, as they are sure to take hold of the 
first part that the hand comes in contact with, and 
draw the colt into the pelvis bones, where it becomes 
wedged so that it is impossible to get it back, to bring 
the head or front legs up. The front legs should be 
first found, then the head, then by gentle pulling 
when the mare strains, and taking time, the colt can 
be got away without injuring the mare. If the colt 
has to be cut, or taken to pieces, a knife made for that 
purpose, as shown in the lectures, should only be 
used, and no other. The reader is referred to the ar- 
ticle on calving in the cattle department. 

A mare should not be worked until two weeks 



JC0 HARLAN^ HORSE 

after foaling, as there arc large blood vessels that 
have to make a change. Do not take the colt with 
the mare when long drives are being made, as the 
ligaments, tendons and bones all being very tender, 
blemishes arc often produced. 

FORMULAE, OR RECIPES, AS RECOM- 
MENDED IN THE BOOK, FOR THE VA- 
RIOUS DISEASES OF HORSES. 

PURGE. 

Barbadoes Aloes, one ounce ; 

Ginger and Gentian, of each, one drachm. 
Mix with warm water to form two pills, each 
about two inches in length. It is much easier to ad- 
minister it in two pills than in one. (The above is a 
full dose for a large horse.) 

Mode of Administering Pills. — The horse 
should be backed into the stall, the tongue drawn 
gently out with the left hand on the off side of the 
mouth, and then fixed by pressing the fingers against 
the side of the lower jaw. The ]:>ill being now taken 
between the tips of the finger of the right hand, 
must be passed rapidly up the mouth until it reaches 
the root of the tongue : it must then be delivered 
with a slight jerk, withdraw the hand and release 
the tongue. A slight tap under the chin may then 
be given, or a drink of water to assist in carrying it 
down. The pill also can be administered on the 
point of a stick, which will be more safe for the in* 
experienced, as there will then be no danger of the 
hand being injured by the teeth. 



owner's fctnas, xoi 

TOXIC POWDERS. 

Powdered Sulphate of Iron ; 

" Gentian ; 

" Saltpetre, of each two ounces ; 

Linseed meal, four ounces. 

Mix. Give one teaspoonful on the feed three 
times a day. When the animal will not eat, the meal 
should he left out and one-fourth of a teaspoonful 
turned well back on the tongue three times a da v. 

This powder should be given when there is loss 
of appetite, indigestion, yellow water, and when the 
animal is recovering from an attack of throat or lung 
disease, colic, &c. It is one of the most powerful 
mineral tonics now in use. * 

COUGH POWDERS. 

Powdered Digitalis ; 

" Squills ; 

" Sulphate of Copper ; 

" Saltpetre, of each half ounce ; 

" Gum Camphor, one-quarter ounce ; 

Linseed Meal, four ounces. 

Mix. Dose one teaspoonful to be mixed in soft 
feed three times a day. But when the animal will 
not eat, the meal should be left out and one-fourth of 
a teaspoonful turned upon the tongue three times a 
day. 

Feed but little hay, and that should bo dampened, 
while giving the Cough Powders. There is no bet- 
ter remedy for couo'h and all diseases of the throat. 



tos iiarlan's horse , , 

CLEANSING OR CONDITION POWDERS.' 

Powdered Sulphate of Iron ; 
" Black Antimony ; 

Sulphur ; 
Jamaica Ginger ; 
Saltpetre, of each two ounces ; 
Linseed Meal, six ounces. 

Mix. Dose one tablespoonful to be mixed with 
soft feed twice a day. 

The above powders are for swelled legs, grease, 
foul humors, hide bound, mange, surfeit, old coughs, 
and to render the coat fine. Too free use of the pow- 
ders may prove injurious to mares with foal. 

WORM POWDERS. 

Powdered Nux Vomica, two ounces ; 

" Saltpetre, one ounce ; 

Linseed Meal, four ounces. 

Mix. Dose one teaspoonful three times a day in 
soft feed for six or eight days ; then if the passages 
arc soft give half a Purge Pill. But if hard and dry 
give a full dose. (See Purge Pill). The above pow- 
ders are a powerful tonic and will improve the con- 
dition of the animal in all cases where a tonic is re- 



quired. 



FEVER MEDICINE, 



Tincture of Aconite Root; 

" Belladonna, of each one ounce ; 

Water, one ounce. 

Mix. Dose one teaspoonful turned on the ton- 
gue every hour until three or four doses are given ; 
then three times a day. 



owner's glide. • 103 

This medicine is recommended for all fevers. — 
The effects of Aconite : it is one of the most power- 
ful, certain and successful sedatives which can be 
used. It has done away with bleeding, blistering 
and physicking, which were formerly thought proper 
agents wherewith to combat and cure disease. It is 
not only a sedative, but it is a carminative, anodyne, 
stimulant and diaphoretic. It controls fever and al- 
lays pain and inflammation ; and is the only medicine, 
excepting Hellebore, which can excite the horse to 
vomit. Although the animal can not vomit it is the 
one to cause him to make the effort. Nothing con- 
trols the circulation and action of the heart so prompt- 
ly as Aconite. The nervous centers of the body are 
no less ready to oley its action. Hence, its value in 
allaying fever, irritation, excitement and pain, from 
whatever cause. 

How to Use it. — Aconite should never be car- 
ried too far, or prostration and weakness will follow, 
When given every hour, never give more than four 
doses ; then give every three or four hours. In in- 
flammation of the lungs, pleuro=pneumonia and other 
diseases, the Tonic Powders, or mineral acids, should 
follow Aconite. 

EYE MEDICINE. 

Tincture of Opium, six drachms ; 

" Aconite Root, two drachms ; 

Rain Water, one pint. 

Mix. This remedy, in connection with the treat- 
ment recommended in the diseases of the eve, is 



lo4 harlan's HORSE 

much better than many of the remedies generally 
used, as it can be used without producing pain, as is 
caused by blowing the various remedies in the eye, 
which is not only injuriou » to that organ, but it is dif- 
ficult to handle the head of the animal afterwards. 

LINIMENTS OR EMBROCATIONS. 

These are for external applications, and are used 
in the cure of sprains, bruises, chronic swellings, ^tc. 

SWEATING LINIMENT. (FOR A BLISTER.) 

Powdered Corrosive Sublimate ; 
Gum Camphor ; 
Alcohol, of each one ounce ; 
Turpentine, one-half pint. 

Grind the Sublimate fine in the mortar, then add 
the Alcohol ; shake well ; then add the Camphor 
and Turpentine. In two days it will be fit for use. 

The value of this liniment depends greatly upon 
the fineness to which the Corrosive Sublimate is pul- 
verized. It is used for all deep-seated injuries, as 
Ringbone, Bone Spavin, Curb, Fistula, Poll-Evil, old 
running-sores, proud flesh, Thrush, hoof-rot, con- 
tracted feet, &c. 

It should be applied once a day for three days, 
and it is always best to apply it in the morning. The 
fourth day dress with lard. No other kind of oil or 
grease will answer so well as lard. Horses that are 
very tender or thin-skinned, will not require as many 
applications as others with a thicker and tougher hide. 
Judgment must be used, and if one or two applica- 
tions will blister the parts well, there is no need to 



owner's guide. 105 

use it oftener. The animal should be watched for a 
short time after an application to prevent him from 
biting or rubbing the parts to which the medicine is 
applied. 

VETERINARY LINIMENT. 

Gum Camphor ; 

Turpentine, of each two ounces ; 

Alcohol, one pint. 

Mix. This is a general liniment and it will be 
found very useful in many cases, as sprains, bruises 
and injuries of different kinds, when an active blister 
is not required. 

LINIMENT OF ACONITE. 

Tincture of Aconite Root, two ounces ; 
Sweet Oil, four ounces ; 
Creosote, one ounce. 

Mix. This is one of the most valuable embroca- 
tions which can be applied to a painful bruise, or 
sprain of whatever kind. It allays and removes in- 
flammation, irritaion and pain. 

HOOF LIQUID. 

Neatsfoot Oil, one-half pint ; 
Turpentine, four ounces ; 
Oil-Tar, six ounces ; 
Origanum, three ounces. 

Shake well. This is one of the best applications 
for a hard, dry foot. Apply to the bottom of the fcot 
once or twice a week. 



to5 harlan's horse 

CERATES OR OINTMENTS. 

Used for dressing sores and ulcers. 

SIMPLE OINTMENT. 

Yellow, or White Wax, three ounces ; 
Olive Oil, two ounces ; 

Melt them on a slow fire. 

GREEN OINTMENT.. 

Verdigris, one ounce ; 
Sulphate of Iron, one ounce ; 
Rosin, four ounces ; 
Turpentine, two ounces ; 
Lard, one pound. 

Melt the Lard and Rosin together, then remove 
from the fire and add the Verdigris, and when nearly 
cool add the Iron and Turpentine. This is an old 
but excellent application for sores, scalds, burns, 
cracked heels, scratches, &c. 

CLYSTERS. 

For Colic of all kinds. 

Warm Rain Water aboutbioodhcat, one stable 

bucket full ; 
Common Salt, four ounces ; 
Soap, sufficient to make a good lather or froth. 

O: this four quarts may be injected into the rec- 
tum every half hour until the animal is well. 

DRENCHES. 

Used in cases of Colic. 

Hyposulphite of Soda, one ounce ; 
Laudanum, one ounce ; 

Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia, half an ounce ; 
Tincture of Aconite Root, twenty drops ; 
W a ter, one -half pint, 



OWNERS GtJlbE. 107 

To administer a drench, raise the head and give 
hut one quarter of the medicine at once. Let this he 
swallowed before there is any more given. Bv gdv- 
ingbut little at a time all the medicine can be admin- 
istered without loss. 

Never drench the horse through the nose. The 
anatomical structure of the horse's throat renders 
drenching through the nose exceedingly dangerous- 



HOW TO TELL THE AGE OF HORSES. 



The appearance and shape of the teeth constitute 
what is generally relied upon as a means of determin- 
ing the age of a horse, and, in connection with other 
circumstances, concerning which the experienced 
horseman will always ascertain full particulars, if it 
be possible to do so. They really form quite an ac- 
curate mark of age. 

We will now point out the peculiarities which 
generally characterize the horse at different periods 
of the horse's life, and ^<g§gi3 
by which his asfe may xfi* 
be determined with** 
considerable exact- 
ness, 

At two years oleb y 
the young colt has a 

Upper jaw of a { n \\ sc t of milk or colt Upper jaw of a 
three year old four year old. 

teeth, but now he lo- 
gins to need others, not merely larger, but also of a 
firmer, more durable composition and setting ; and 
this necessity Nature meets by commencing the re- 
placement of the first set by the permanent teeth. 
This operation begins with the first grinder — the for- 





OWXER S GUIDE. KXJ 

Ward one, but as the grinders arc all of them, too far 
back in the mouth to be easily inspected, we must 

continue to depend 

mainly upon what 

we can discover in 

connection with the 








Upper jaw of a five 
year old. 



Upper jaw of a si. 

year old. 



nippers. 

During the third 
year the central nip- 
pers, both the upper 
and lower ones, are being shed, or shifted, as it is of- 
ten called, and by the time it is completed the perma- 
nent pair have become nearly full grown. (See cut 
of the jaw at three years old.) In the fourth year the 
same changes occur. Two new teeth make their ap- 
pearance in the upper, and two in the lower jaw. 
(See cut of the jaw at four years old.) There yet 
remain the corner 
teeth above and be- 
low, which will be 
fdicd and replaced 
at the age of five 
years. The tushes 
or bridle teeth arc 
generally in plain- 
sight. At five years 
old the mouth is complete in the number of its teeth, 
and is now said to be a full mouth, (Sec cut of the 
jaw at five years old.) 




\ - 




tZppc'rjaiv rfa seven 



Upper jaw of an 

"eight year old. 



(i\ six ye&rs th? central irpp:.:-.- of 1 



lower jaw 





110 HARLAN S IIORSK 

arc so much worn down that the cups arc obliterated, 
and the central nippers in the upper jaw show a de- 
crease in the depth of the cups. (See cut of jaw at 
six years old.) 

At seven years the cups of the four central nip- 
pers in the lower jaw arc no longer visible, and the 
cups in the four central nippers of the upper jaw arc 
fast wearing away. (Sec cut of jaw at seven years.) 
The only Gfuide 

we now have is the 

shape of the face of 

the teeth or nippers. 

At eight thev are all \ 

oval. The cups in 

all the teeth in the rr 

Upper jaw of a ten 

lower jaw are worn year old. 

out, yet the enamel 
or white mark is still visible. The upper teeth retain 
the cups or marks longer than the lower teeth. The 
lower jaw alone is moved and pressed forcibly upon 
the food ; the upper jaw is without motion, and has 
only to resist the pressure. At nine the cups are 
worn out of the central nippers of the upper jaw, and 
a hook has been formed on the corner teeth of the 
upper jaw. The face of the teeth diminish in size. 
(vSee cut of jaw at nine years.) 

The guide which will enable us accurately to de- 
termine the age after nine years old, must now be 
taken from the shape of the upper surface ut the nip* 
pers. At eight they are all oval, Uvj length of the 



Vpjicrjaw of a nine 
year <ld. 








Upper jaw of a tltir 
treh year old. 



Upper jaw of a six 
teen year old. 



OWNERS GUIDE. Ill 

oval running across from tooth to tooth ; but as the 

horse gets older, the 

teeth diminish in size, 

and thib commencing 

in their width, and 

not in their thickness. 

They become a little 

apart from each other 

and their surfaces are 

rounded. At nine the 
center nippers are evidently so ; at ten the others be< 
gin to have the oval shortened. (See cut of jaw at 
ten years.) 

At eleven the second pair of nippers are quite 
rounded ; and at thirteen the corner ones have that 
appearance. At fourteen the faces of the central 
nippers become some- 
what triangular. At six- 
teen they are all so. At 
nineteen the angles 
begin to wear off, and 
the central teeth are 
again oval, but in a re- 
versed direction, viz., 
from outward, inward ; 
and at twenty thev all wear this form. 




Up]jer jaw of a 
tieenty year old. 




Uppper ja w of a 
thirty year old. 



At thirty years old the cups and all marks have 
disappeared, and the shape of the teeth is reversed. 
(See cut of jaw at thirty years old 1 ) 

The general indications of old age, independent 



1X2 HAfcLAN*S HORSE 

of the teeth, are deepening of the hollows over the 
eyes ; gray hairs, and particularly over the eyes and 
about the muzzle ; thinness and hanging down of the 
lips, and sharpness of the lower jaw bones. 

CASTRATING COLTS. 

This operation, to say the least, is a barbarous 
one, necessity only justifying its performance. This 
fact admitted, it becomes us as rational beings to per- 
form the operation in such a manner as involves the 
least risk, least pain, and the least inconvenience to 
the animal operated on. Castration is one of the 
most ancient operations known to man. The differ- 
ent methods which have from time to time been prac* 
tised we will not stop to consider in this little work, 
but will be content with mentioning the operation in- 
troduced into the United States by Dr. Robert Jen- 
nings, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, several years 
ago. This consists in removing the testicles by means 
of the ecrasseur, an instrument invented for the re- 
moval of hemmorrhoides (piles) in man. The ad- 
vantages of this operation over all others are : First, 
it is safer, better, less painful, more scientific, and less 
barbarous than any other at present known. Sec- 
ondly, the wound heals quickly, seldom requiring 
more than two weeks, and usually not more than one. 
Thirdly, the operation is less troublesome to the skill- 
ful operator, as well as to the owner of the animal, 
as the colt is done with as soon as it is let up. No 
after treatment, as a general thine, is required, as in 






OWNERS GUIDE. II3 

other methods, such as keeping the scrotum open, 
etc., etc. Fourthly, little or no swelling takes place, 
the animal being scarcely affected in any perceptible 
way by the operation. Where a sufficient number of 
colts are obtained in any section of the country to 
justify an excursion, the services of the undersigned 
can be had. 

Address 

DR. GEO. O. HARLAN, 



Fremont. 



Sandusky Co., Ohio. 



Diseases of Cattle. 



This part of our work is devoted to the expla- 
nation and treatment of the various diseases affecting 
the 'ox, together with an account of the disease inei- 
dent to milch cows. Cattle diseases are in many 
particulars similar to those of the horse. Thus, in- 
flamation, irritation and fever, are common to all ani- 
imals. Still, however, there are many diseases 
affecting cattle in which we fail to find a counterpart 
in any disease attacking horses. 

CATTLE PLAGUE. 

This is a vague name, and conveys no intimation 
of the cause, nature, seat or characteristics of the 
affection, whatever it may be. Therefore, for the 
credit of the writer, and the convenience of the pub- 
lic, no disease should be called a plague. There is 
now no disease affecting the human family called a 
plague. Th«* experienced physician can tell the na- 
ture, seat, and complete history of the disease, and 
give it a name by which it will be known and recog- 
nized. Why should not the veterinary surgeon do 



2 TREATMENT 

likewise? So long as such men as Gamgee continue 
to write and speak of cattle plague, so long will veter- 
inary surgeons continue to labor in vain for the 
public confidence. Why should not things, states 
and conditions be called by their right names. Cat- 
tle disease, cattle plague and rinderpest should long 
ago have been blotted from the books ; for, at least, 
they only serve as a cloak or cover to hide the innate 
ignorance and stupidity of some veterinary surgeons 
— horse and cow doctors, particularly. The word 
plague means a stroke, and that is all the insight a 
person can derive from the word. As every disease 
may be considered a stroke, why not add what kind 
of a stroke it is ? 

LOSS OF THE CUD. 

This occurence is the symptom of, and not a dis- 
ease. Loss of the cud, or rumination, accompanies 
almost every disease of any importance attacking the 
ox or cow. When rumination has ceased for a time, 
and is resumed again, it is a good symptom tnat the 
animal is better, and an indication that the functions 
of the body are about being resumed again, and are 
demanding food for their nourishment. Loss of cud 
is among the first symptoms observed by farmers in 
case of bronchitis, pleuro-pneumonia, hoven, aph- 
tha, etc. 

HIDE BOUND* 

This is is not to be taken as a disease, but merely 
the result of faulty digestion and assimilation. 






b* CATTLE, j 

Treatment. — Give one pound of epsdm salts, 
half an ounce of ginger, and mix in two bottles of 
cold water, sweetened with molasses. Next day 
follow with the following powders : Powdered 
ginger one ounce ; fenugreek, one ounce ; caraway 
seeds half an ounce ; mix and give in one dose ; and 
one dose may be given daily for a week. 
HAIR BALLS. 

These are very common in cattle, and are intro- 
duced by the animal licking itself and swallowing the 
hair. These balls are found after death, and are of 
various sizes and thoroughly felted. 

CHOKING. 

This is of frequent occurrence among cattle or 
cows, fed upon potatoes, turnips, or wdiole corn, etc. 

Treatment. — When the potato is in the upper 
or middle third of the gullet, the mouth of the animal 
is to be held open by means ot a balling iron, or some 
other contrivance, while a person having a small 
hand should pass a cord like a clothes-line, with a 
loop on the end of it, and try to get the noose over 
and beyond the obstruction. If the substance be low 
down in the gullet, manipulation may be tried from 
the outside, by tightening the skin upon the obstruc- 
tion and trying to move it up, if possible ; but down- 
wards if it will not require too great force being used. 
Failing to move it up or down, try to dislodge it by 
pouring small quantities of oil or melted lard, not hot, 
down the throat. If this also proves ineffectual, the 
piobung should be used ; or in its stead, a strong, 



4 TREATMENT 

flexible cane or rattan may be tried, but card should 
be taken to have the cane go down the right passage; 
if couhging is set up on the introduction of the cane, 
have it withdrawn, as it has entered the air passages, 
but try till it has been brought properly down to the ob- 
struction. With patience and perseverance the difficul- 
ty will usually be overcome. Still, however, there arc 
cases which require the gullet to be opened over the 
place of obstruction ; a safe operation, requiring only 
a simple cut through the skin and outer portion of the 
gullet, which will readily heal without much trouble, 
by bringing the lips of the wound together with a 
stitch or two of strong but small twine or saddler's 
silk, by means of a small packing needle. Feed the 
cow or ox for a week or more on soft or prepared 
food, until the wound is healed. 

CALVING. 

This in an operation of nature which most dairy- 
men and farmers are familiar with, and upon which 
we will say comparatively little. Before we do this, 
however, a short description of the symptoms by 
which it is known when a cow is in calf will be given. 

The first, and probably the surest sign of a cow 
being with a calf, is the increased size of the belly. 
The hand placed firmly against the flank or portion 
where there are no ribs, a hard, firm body will be 
felt, which is the calf. As time passes along, the 
movements of the calf in the womb can be occasion- 
ly seen. Within a few weeks of calving, the external 
organs of generation increase in size, and discharge a 



OF CATTLE. ^ 

thick mucus. The udder becomes swollen, hot, and 
full of first milk, which is a sure indication that the 
time for calving is near at hand. This is accompa- 
nied by a relaxation of the ligament of the pelvis, or, 
as the dairymen say, k * She is down in her bones. ^ 

From the time of conception till natural j>arturi- 
tion or calving, it is about fortv weeks, or two hund- 
red and eighty days. There are, however, opinions 
at variencc with these dates, founded upon the sex of 
the calf. If a male, it is carried longer than if of the 
opposite sex. These opinions form ground for de- 
bate, therefore we will drop theorizing. 

Natural Calving. — If the natural presenta 
tion and size of the calf be right, no trouble need be 
apprehended, and the cow may be left to herself. 
The ammon, or water-bag, having been ruptured or 
broken, there w T ill be seen the fore legs and head of 
the calf, resting upon the two feet, and protruding a 
little. If, however, the cow should labor long with 
the calf in this position, and she is weak and thin in 
flesh, she may be assisted. This can be done bv 
taking hold of the two feet and part of the head, 
and when the cow makes an effort to strain, pull at 
the calf. If sufficient force cannot be applied by the 
hands, then place a soft but stout rope around the 
feet of the calf, and apply traction or force. Before 

iny force whatever is used, be sure that the mouth 
jf the womb is sufficiently dilated. For if this is not 
the case, then by using force the womb is torn or 
ruptured, and the death of the cow is the result. Be 






6 TREATMENT 

patient, and time — the prover of all things — will also 
prove the wisdom of waiting. If after delay, how- 
ever, both cow and calf should be lost, be consoled 
by the fact that likely the one or both would have 
been lost anyway ; for there will be found 
some one malformation, either in the pelvis 
or arch of the pubis of the cow, or an undue propor- 
tion of the size of the calf to the pelvic arch through 
which it has to pass to be delivered. Sometimes the 
calf is over-sized, from water in the head or water 
in the belly (dropsy), or both of these conditions 
combined. Before a calf of this description can be 
delivered, and the cow relieved, the head of the calf 
musbbe rnerced to lessen its size. Along, spear-like 
instrument — trocar — is used to pierce the belly or ab- 
domen of the calf to empty the fluid, to lessen also 
its great size. When this is properly done, and the 
cow is not too greatly exhausted, she may complete 
the delivery without further assistance. 

Twin Calves. — Twin presentations are not as 
various as they arc curious. Thus, we sometimes sec 
a fore leg" of one calf and a hind le£ of another. In 
this condition of things it must be evident that no 
force should be used to bring them away till each 
calf is properly adjusted in its position. The best 
and quickest way is to adjust the calf which first pre- 
sents itself, and if portions of the other present 
themselves also, push them back into the womb. 
When one calf is safelv delivered, not much difficul- 
ty will be experienced with the other, 

Unxatural Presentation. — The unnatural po- 



Ok dATTLB, 7 

sition of calves about to be delivered is happily rare, 
and forms the exception to the natural law of presen- 
tation. However rare these presentations axe, they 
nevertheless are sometimes seen. Thus, the feet arc 
presented, and the head of the calf doubled on its 
neck, and in the womb. This condition is best rem- 
edied by tying a rope around the fore feet, or both 
together, and raising the hind parts of the cow off 
the ground, thus forcing the calf down to the fundus 
or bottom of the womb. This being done, reach 
the hand in and seize the calf by the head, and bring 
it with you, while an assistant is pulling at the rope 
attached to the fore legs. By adopting this plan a 
safe and speedy delivery will be effected. Do not 
endeavor by force to bring the head of the calf into 
the neck of the womb, when there is no room to do 
sj, without first elevating the hind portion of the cow 
sufficiently for the calf to fall to the bottom of the 
womb, where there is plenty of room to turn, not only 
the head but the whole body also. 

Another form of malposition is, where we have 
the head and neck within the neck of the womb, 
without the feet and legs. The only alternative in this 
case is to remove the head by cutting it from the 
neck, leaving, however, sufficient skin for attaching 
a rope to it. But if the head has not fairly passed 
out, an attempt should be made to put- it back into 
the womb again, and not to bring it out. Before 
pushing it back fix a rope around the lower jaw. 
The legs only should be searched for by the hand, 
and when found, secured by another rope. Afert 



8 TREATMkXT 

both fore legs and head are thus fairly within the 
grasp, use traction or gentle force, and take advan- 
tage of every strain made by the cow, and by these 
means the calf will be safely delivered. 

The next unnatural form consists in the presen- 
tation of either of the fore legs, where the nose is 
pressed downward, and the crown of the head only 
is seen or felt. Secure the leg which is seen, by a 
cord, push on the crown of the head or elevate the 
hind parts of the cow a little, to force the calf slight- 
ly down in the womb, then pass a cord around the 
lower jaw, and find the other fore leg, securing it by 
a rope. The rope attached to the lower jaw should 
be first pulled to straighten the head on the neck, then 
the cord attached to the legs should b2 gulled simul- 
taneously, and the head and feet as they are presented 
should be guided by the hands of an assistant until 
the head and both fore legs have fairly entered the 
proper channel. 

The next presentation is what is called breech 
presentation. The tail and buttocks are here pre- 
sented for delivery, which, of course, cannot be ef- 
fected in such a position. The only chance for a 
safe delivery is to get hold of the hind legs, which is 
not easily effected ; but perseverance assisted by in- 
genuity, can do much, when it is known what 
is required. In this case get hold of both hind legs, 
and when they have been secured and brougnt into 
the proper channel, delivery can be easily effected. 

The next and last presentation which we notice 
is where the crown of the head is presented, and the 



OF CATTLE. 9 

calf is lying upon its back. This is a tedious labor, 
and to effect a delivery at all, the calf must be turned, 
which, by the way, is not an easy task ; still, how- 
ever, it can be done by securing the head and fore legs 
with a rope. Should all efforts fail, do not exhaust 
the strength of the cow, but hasten to detach the legs 
of the calf, opening its belly, and in some cases the 
head also, to lessen its size, thereby securing the de- 
livery of a mutilated calf, but a living cow. In all 
cases of calving it is well to administer a stimu- 
lant, of four ounces of Jamaica ginger made in a tea, 
with two quarts of water. Give as a drench. 

RETENTION OF THE PLACENTA OR AF- 
TER BIRTH. 

As it is sometimes called, the cleansing of the 
cow. If the cow has gone her full time with calf, 
and is in a healthy condition, the after-birth will not 
be retained after she has given birth to her calf. 
When a cow does not cleanse properly, and within a 
reasonable time, there is then something otherwise 
wrong with her health, such as debility and want of 
vitality in the system. It is this that must be looked 

to. 

Treatment. — Cows not having cleansed prop- 
erly, within a few hours after calving, should be 
given the following mixture : Epsom salts, one 
pound ; powdered ginger, one ounce ; mix, and give 
in three or four bottles of warm ale, porter, or warm 
water, sweetened with molasses. This mixture, not 
having the desired effect in four hours, the hands, 
well preased, should be introduced, and the after- 



IO TREATMENT 

birth, at its attachments, gently pressed. This must 
not be accompanied with much pulling, as pressure 
with the linger and thumb will be all that is require:! 
to remove it. Then give the cow a little warm ale or 
molasses water, with half an ounce of powdered er- 
got of rye ; repeat in half an hour. This will cause 
contraction of the womb. When decomposition or 
putrefaction of the after-birth has taken place, which 
is often the case when the cow has not cleansed, after 
the removal, wash out the womb with carbolic acid, 
half ounce ; water, one gallon, milk warm. Also, 
administer as a drench, one ounce of hyposulphite of 
soda three times a day, for a few days, to neutralize any 
of the poison of putrefaction that may have been 
absorbed into the blood. Give the cow good, nutri- 
tious food to support her strength. 

FALLING OF THE WOMB. (CALF BED.) 

This deviation from the normal or healthy con- 
dition is a great trouble to the farmer and breeder. 

Cause. — Relax ion of the horns or ligaments of 
the womb, from a weak and relapsed habit of the 
body, accompanied by debility. 

Prevention. — Immediately after calving apply 
a truss or pad to the mouth of the vagina, and secure 
it in the following manner : Put a lar^e horse collar 
on the cow's neck ; one surcingle around the body 
of "the cow behind the fore legs, another in front of 
the udder and hind lesfs. This beinsr done, attach a 
small, soft rope to each side of the collar, bring it along 
each side of the backbone, give it a hitch around the 



OF CATTLE. II 

fore surcingle, and the same to the hind one ; then 
bring the ropes close together under the tail, and 
place the pad over the proper part, with the ropes 
laid firmly over it. Here tie both ropes together 
with a string just below the pad, then bring one rope 
down between the udder and thigh, give it a hitch 
around the hind surcingle or band, and finally secure 
the end of the ropes to that portion corning along the 
back. 

Treatment. — When the womb has fallen down 
and is inverted, assistance should be had at once, 
The womb or bag should be lifted into a clean cloth, 
and held up by a person on each side. There are two 

"ways of returning the womb into its proper place: 
the one by pressure on the neck or small portion of 
the womb, and the other by pressure on the fundus 
or large end, or bottom of the womb ; this iast is the 
best way, because we have not only the mere pulling 
of the womb to contend with, but its inversion also. 
So, therefore, apply gentle pressure to the bottom of 
the womb, first having cleansed it from dirt, dung and 
straw. The operation will be effected more easily 
by having the cow placed with her fore legs low, and 
the hind ones high, so it will slip in without much 
difficulty. After it is in, the cow should be kept 
standing in such, or even lying in this position for a 
day or so, and a pad already spoken of should be ap- 
plied as soon as the operation is finished. The pad 

-is much the better way of securing the parts than by 
sewing the lips of the vagina. 

Where all efforts fail to put back the bed, and 



13 TREATMENT 

when decomposition or mortification has ensued, the 
only chance to save the life of the cow is to cut the 
womb or the bed at its smallest or neck portion ; but 
before doing so, tie firmly round the neck of the 
womb a well waxed cord, which will prevent bleed- 
ing. This is to remain on the bed, which is left. 
Give immediately twenty-five drops of the tincture 
of Aconite root every three hours, till four or five 
doses are given, which will relieve pain and control 
the circulation. 

RUPTURE IN CALVES. 

The rupture we are now considering is that 
known by the name of Umbilical, which occurs in 
young calves, and consists in the protrusion of a 
portion of and intestines through the naval, 
thus forming a small tumor. This condition 
is often congenital, or found on the calf at birth. 

Treatment. — Force the bowel up into the belly, 
gather the loose skin together, tie a well waxed cord 
tightly around it close to the belly, and a strong pin 
may be forced through the skin below the ligature 
or cord, to keep it from falling off before the loose 
skin comes away ; in a few days the skin will fall off, 
leaving a healthy sore, without any hole or rupture. 

HOVEN OR BLOATED. 
So called from the appearance and sound. The 
evolution, or giving off of carbonic gas, from the 
large quantity of grass of clover when wet, contained 
within the rumen or paunch, together with the sus- 
pension of the function of digestion and peristolic 






OF CATTLE. 1 3 

action of the bowels, all of which combined go to 
make up the disease called hoven. Hoven may oc- 
cur in one hour, for we often sec cows turned out to 
pasture in the morning, and are almost found suffo- 
cated iii an hour afterwards. In cases of this kind 
there is no time to be lost. Every farmer shonld be 
prepared to meet and cure them as they occur. 
There is no time to run for assistance. 

Causes. — Over- filling the paunch, and in too 
quick a time— before the stomach has time to act 
upon it ; hence fermentation is set up. 

Symptoms. — Great distress ; the sides are dis- 
tended, and when struck sound like a drum ; the 
beast lying down and rising ; there is great suffering, 
and if not speedily relieved, the rumen will give way, 
burst or rupture ; if this does not happen shortly, the 
brain becomes affected, and the beast dies unconsci- 
ous. The disease runs its course with fearful rapidity. 

Treatment. — Give immediately two ounces or 
two large tablespoonsful of Hyposulphite of Soda, 
dissolved in one pint of warm water. Dashing cold 
water over the loins often cures the affection. Some 
practitioners recommend puncturing the rumen or 
paunch, but there is always some danger attending 
it, and, at best, it is only palliative. 
MILK FEVER. 

Milk fever occurs from the first to the third day 
after calving ; rarely after the third dav. It is seldom 
met before the fourth calving;, then attacking chieflv 
cows of select breeds, and good milkers. Milk fever 



I-f'- TREATMENT 

consists in inflammation of the womb, which some- 
times even extends to the bowels. 

Symptoms. — Loss of appetite ; cud, or rumina- 
tion ceases ; staggering gait, wild looks, fall and can- 
not rise. If the disease be not checked, the brain. 
will soon be affected also, when the cow will dash 
about with her head and horns, plunging them into 
the ground. 

Causes. — Undue determination of the blood to 
the womb from over feeding before and immediately 
after calving, and from sudden changes of weather at 
the time of calving. 

Prevention. — Give one week before calving, 
one pound of Epsom salts, half pound table salt, and 
one-half ounce of ground ginger. Mix in four bot- 
tles of cold water, and sweetened with molasses. 
Let the cow's feed be of the lightest kind, such as 
hay and thin slop mashes, and no meal, grain, or 
solid food. This measure will lessen the tendency to 
interruption of the circulation, and will improve the 
health and tone of the whole system. To avoid as 
much as possible the effects of sudden changes of the 
weather, have the cow brought in the barn or shed. 
When milk fever is anticipated, give, a few hours af- 
ter calving, twenty-five drops of the tincture of Aco- 
nite root, in a little cold water, which may be repeat- 
ed every six hours until four doses have been given. 
Nothing that I am acquainted with is as capable oi 
equalizing the circulation of the blood, by controlling 
the heart's action, Aconite ; and for this purple I 






of cAfTLMi 15 

highly recommend it to farmers and breeders of stock 
throughout the country. 

Treatment. — When the disease is present, give 
at once thirty drops of the tincture of Aconite root, 
and half an ounce of pure Opium in powder, in a 
bottle of thin gruel. The Aconite must be repeated ev- 
er}' four hours, without the Opium, until four or five 
doses are given. Place chopped ice in a bag on the 
forehead, and attach it to the horns, renewing it when 
needed. This being done quickly, at more leisure 
get epsom salts, one pound table salt, one pound ; 
ginger, half an ounce ; mix and, dissolve in four bot- 
tles of cold water, with a little molasses to sweeten 
it, and give at one dose. After this medicine has 
been given, turn the cow from side to side, every four 
hours, or when the Aconite is given, which will save 
labor and unnecessary excitement to her. She 
should be left as quietly as possible, and her legs and 
body kept warm, thereby relieving the womb to that 
extent. Do not deny pure air nor plenty of cold 
water to the afflicted animal, for she not only needs 
them, but they are indispensable to a sure and per- 
fect recover)- in most diseases, and as much so, if not 
more, in a disease of this kind. 

DISEASES OF THE BLADDER. 

Bladder diseases in cattle generally are the re- 
sult of irritant matter in the urine, and of calculi or 
stone in the bladder. 

Symptoms. — The animal is restless, having pain 
and irritation, and constantly endeavoring to make 



l6 MEATMEN!' 

urine, but only a few drops passing at a tinlc. The 
eyes are invariably blood-shot. Should the animal 
not be relieved.it will die from weakness, exhaus- 
tion, constant excitement and irritation. 

Treatment. — Give at once twenty-five drops of 
the tinct. of Aconite root, to relieve irritation and pain. 
Give freely linseed tea and other demulcents, to soothe 
the kidneys and bladder. In order that any earthy 
matter which m.iy ba present in the ureters, kidneys 
or bladder, miiy be lessened or destroyed altogether, 
give sixty drops of muriatic acid once or twice a day 
in cold water. This, however should not be given 
while there is pain or irritation present. 

PROLAPSUS OF THE BLADDER. 

Among cows, during and after difficult calving, 
there will be sometimes observed a white, shining, 
watery bag protruding between the lips of the vul- 
va. This is the bladder holding the urine. It is 
twisted at its neck, and, therefore cannot be emptied. 
Many a good cow h:is been destroyed by ignorant 
persons mistaking this for some of the watery mem- 
branes surrounding the calf, and, therefore, intention- 
ally tearing it asunder. 

Treatment. — Carefully examine the distended 
bag, its size and shape. Having determined that it is 
the urinary bladder, carefully cleanse it, if dirty, and 
pass the hand, carefully oiled, along its surface, as- 
certaining which way the turn or twist is made. 
Having satisfatorilv known this, take the bladder in 
the other hmd and re vers : the turn or twist. And 



OF CATTJ.I- , jy 

then, should the bladder again return, a roll of soft 
cotton cloth should be used to plug up the vulva an 
hour or two. If this should not be sufficient, a stick 
or suture of stout saddlers silk, or other strong ma- 
terial, should be passed through each side of the vul- 
va with a small packing or darning needle, and be 
allowed to remain a few davs. 

RINDERPEST, HOLLOW HORN, WOLF IX 

THE TAIL. 

These are Dutch names for cattle plague. So 
much do I abhor the employment of such ignorant 
and unmeaning names, that I cannot but entertain a 
poor opinion of the scientific attainments of those 
who constantly use them. 

FEVER. 
Cows are subject to ephemeral fever, or more 
plainly speaking, a fever of a day's duration, which 
passes off without any trouble. This fever has been 
thought by some persons to depend upon hollow 
horn or wolf in the tail, and they bore the horns of 
the poor dumb brute. 

GANGRENE OF THE TAIL. 

This is not, as yet, at all events, an American dis- 
ease, but is of frequent occurrence among the cows 
of continental Europe. The fact, however, I believe 
to be the only true reason why the Pennsylvanians 
will persist that cows have wolf in the tail, accom- 
panied with an empty horn, 

Symptoms.— We are told by writers that the tail 
becomes paralyzed,its skin soft, swollen and filled with 



*^ TREATMENT 

water at its end. and when opened a bad smelling 
ichor is discharged. The disease spreads, until fin- 
ally separation of the tail takes place, leaving the ani- 
mal without one. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER. 
(GARGET). 

Inflammation of the udder in cows is often of a 
very troublesome character. It occurs shortly after 
calving, and in some instances iut for a week or two 
alter. The inflammation is usually confined to one 
quarter of the udder only, and may be of an acute or 
chronic character. 

Causes. — Want of proper attention in not 
milking the cow sufficiently after calving, and in 
many cases by not milk n^r the cow when her udder 
is almost ready to burst, even before calving. In 
a word, it the udder and te its, are kept from 
over-gorgement, there can bj n ) udder disease. The 
trouble is, that all cows are not alike in the produc- 
tion of milk, but unfortunately they receive the 
same treatment, and hence those cows which arc en- 
dowed with great milking qualities are usually the 
victims of garget. 

Treatment. — In the acute form, apply Warm 
poultices to hasten suppuration. Where the parts 
point and contain fluid or pus, open deeply at the 
lowest point, that the pus may escape without forc- 
ing. When properly discharged, heal up as a 
common sore. By all means do not forget to milk 
the udder well, and the best plan will be to put t\v ) 



OF--CATTLE. X^ 

strong calves to suck, for by so doing the pus may 
be drawn off by them. 

DISEASES OF THE TEATS. 

Teats of milch cows are often subject to disease 
and derangement. 

i st. Milkstones sometimes stop the flow of 
milk, and can be felt within the milk channel when 
the teat is pressed between the lingers. For their 
removal take a silver probe or knitting needle, and, if 
possible, force the obstruction up into the udder. 

2d. Stricture of the milk channel of the teat 
causes a small stream of milk to flow, and impairs the 
usefulness of that quarter of the udder. This can be 
remedied by using the silver probe or needle, com- 
mencing however, with a small size, and gradually 
using thicker or larger ones, till the channel is as 
large as wanted. This operation will have to be car- 
ried on for a week or two, the first day using the 
small probe three times in the day, and following the 
next day with the larger size, and so continuing with 
the other sizes until finally cured. 

3d. Warts are occasionally a trouble to the cow 
and to those who milk her. Irritation, and sometimes 
swelling, is induced, which causes closure in the 
channel of the teat. Warts are to be removed by a 
pair of sharp scissors. 

4th. Sore teats are cured by the simple oint- 
ment, one ounce, and one drachm of verdigris, well 
mixed : apply twice a day. 



20 TREATMENT 

LUNG FEVER, LICE, MANGE, JAUNDICE 

SORE THROAT, DISEASES OF THE 

TEETH, 

The symptoms and treatment are the same as 
recommended for horses, only double the doses, 
(which see). 

BRONCHITIS. 

This is an inflammation of the windpipe, and even 
extending to the lungs themselves. There are every 
variety and severity seen in this diseasc ; from the 
simple irritation of the outpouring of serum from the 
blood into the cavity of the chest, resulting, if the 
cow be with calf, in abortion, and often, among oth- 
ers, in the death of the animal, altera long and ling- 
ering hectic fever. Bronchitis and throat and chest 
diseases in cattle, are insidious and deceptive, for the 
ox does not, even under the most severe forms of 
these, exhibit fever and irritation, loss of appetite, 
etc., which are shown at once, when attacking the 
horse. Not until the disease has made considerable 
progress does the ox or cow show symptoms of dis- 
ease ; so much is this the case, that I have on several 
occasions pointed out bronchial. and chest disease in 
milch cows, while the owner failed to see anything 
wrong. Indeed this is the great difficulty in the suc- 
cessful treatment of diseases in neat cattle, not apply- 
ing the remedies at an early stage of the affection. A 
closer attention, and more careful observation on the 
part of farmers and others, is almost imperatively de- 
manded, and more especially should this be the case 






OF CATTLE. 21 

with dairy people, for, when anything in the least 
unusual is discovered, such ai a very slight grating 
sound in the windpipe, when the ear is steadily ap- 
plied, the cow should immediately have some iron or 
tonic powders, and all will he well in a few days 
again ; whereas, if left to itself, serum is exuded, and 
debility, weakness, and even death may follow. I 
would say to dairymen, study the sounds in the 
windpipe, both in the sick and well animal, and 
you will not only perfect your knowledge in this par- 
ticular, but I assure you it will be no idle study, 
for in a short tim? you will not only be able to detect 
these Insidious diseases in the beginning, in your 
cows, but can apply the remedy also, thereby saving 
yourself from inconvenience and loss which some 
can ill afford. In this way you can prove to your 
neighbors, and to the world at large, that cattle dis- 
eases are not so difficult to cure after all, and that 
while others have so long sat and brooded with 
soured and sullen minds over their losses, and ignor- 
ance and inefficiency of cow doctors, you have ob- 
tained a mastery of the situation. 

Cause. — Bronchitis is a disease which rarely 
attacks one animal only, but usually the most of the 
herd will have been attacked before it leaves the 
place, and then it will leave when there is no more 
victims to seize. These epizootic diseases depend 
upon what is called atmospheric cause. Such condi- 
tion usually manifests itself in. the spring of the year? 
and sometimes early in the summer. The peculiari- 
ty of the air causes notation of the fauces of the 



2 2 TREATMENT 

mouth, throat, or windpipe and as bctbrc stated, 
sometimes extends to the chest or lunsfs themselves. 

Symptoms. — In a week or so after the attack, a 
slight, husky eotigh, with weeping from the eyes, 
and a watery discharge from the inner corner of the 
nose, will be seen, and by applying the ear to the 
course of the windpipe, a slight, rough and grating 
sound will be heard. This sound cannot be 
heard until twelve hours after the attack. According 
to the amount of serum poured out, and whether the 
cow be in calf, and how far she is gone in calf, so 
will the quickness and depth of the breathing be. 
Bronchitis is the forerunner of pleuro -pneumonia, 
commonly called the "Massachusetts Cattle Disease." 

Treatment. — If the disease be discovered with- 
in forty-eight hours from the attack, take from four 
to five doses of the tincture of Aconite root, twenty- 
five drops to a dose, and give one dose every four 
hours. If there be uncertainty as to whether the 
disease has existed longer or shorter, to save time, 
the aconite may be given along with the following 
powders, three times a day : Powdered Sulphate 
of Iron, three drachms ; powdered Gentian Roois 
half an ounce ; powdered Ginger Root, haif an ounce ; 
powdered Sulphite of Soda, half an ounce ; mix and 
make a drench, to be poured do/wn the mouth out of a 
strong bottle. This medicine is to be continued 
(omitting the aconite after the fifth dose), till the ani- 
mal is well or looks brighter, and cats all it get-. In 
addition to the above medicines, r^ive once or twice 
daily, half an ounce of c:>m rierclal sulphuric acid, 



OV CATTLE. 23 

largely diluted or mixed in half a bucket of cold 

water. In feeding care should be taken not to give 

too much, so as to bring on dangerous indigestion. 

Cold water and pure air are indispensible agents in 

the treatment of this, and all other diseases of horses 

and cattle. 

SPAYED COWS. 

The following are the reasons why dairymen 

should spay their cows when not intended for breed- 



ing 






1st. Spayed cows are mors easily kept in good 
condition than cows not spayed. 

2d. They are less liable to sickness of an epi- 
zootic kind, and when sick are more likely to re- 
c-^'er. 

3d. When epizootic diseases are present in the 
Vicinity, or even in the herd, spayed cows are always 
in condition and fit for the butcher. To prevent loss 
and save expense in the treatment, with the at- 
tendant risk of loss of some, and loss of con- 
dition and milk of all that are affected, they can 
be sold without loss, which is not the case with cows 
not spayed, and when pleuro-pneumonia is among 
them. 

4th. Spayed cows give the same quantity and 
quality of milk all the year round, if properly fed and 
cared for. 

5th. Ten spayed cows will give the year round 
as much milk as double that number of cows not 
spayed, thus saving the interest on the outlay for ten 
cows, together with the risk from loss of some of t!i 2 



24 trircATM^S'f 

principal, by death of one or more from sickness or 
accident, not to speak of the feed of ten cows. Be- 
tween the feed of ten cows and their manure, the 
farmer can best estimate the difference in value. 

6th. With spayed cows there is no risk to run 
from milk fever, nor trouble with cows called bullers. 

7th. To fatten a cow, spay her instead of giving 
her the bull, as is the present custom, by which ^ecd 
and time are consumed, and the animal is not made 
very fat after all, for she has to provide the fattening 
substance for the calf in the womb, which, if she had 
been spayed, would have been appropriated to her- 
self, nor is this all, for the calf in the belly of a cow 
is at once discounted by the butcher, as it is not a sal- 
able article in market. 

Having thus had a bird's eye view of the advan- 
tages to be derived from spayed cows, let us look in 
the same manner at the disadvantages of spayed 
cows. 

1st. The expense of operation, and the attend- 
ant risk of the animal dying, although this is not 
great (about one in the hundred). The expense 
of the operation will be from three to five dollars, 
which will depend upon the distance the operator 
has to travel, and how many animals arc to be oper- 
ated on. 

2d. Spayed cows are apt to accumulate ff.t and 
flesh, so that they become dry much sooner th:r; 
cows not spayed. Still, there can be but little lo; . 
for a fat cow is always ready for sale. 



OF CATTLfi. 25 

The author has now stated at length that treat- 
ment which the horse and cow for their own sake 
deserve, and which, for the honor of the being whom 
it serves, the animal should receive. He has design- 
edly rather appealed to the reason of his hearers 
than sought to enlist their feelings. The subject was, 
indeed, a wide one. Man has hitherto been too con- 
tent to consider animals as something given absolute- 
ly to him, to be treated according to his sovereign 
will or merest pleasure. He has not reflected that, 
when created lord of this earth, he was invested with 
a title which had its responsibilities as well as its 
privileges. 



: v 



Inde?:. 



Application of the shoe 


3° 


Balking 


IO 


Bone spavin 


4 1 


Bog or blood spavin 


42 


Bots 


58 


Big head and big jaw 


69 


Bronchitis 


77 


Broken or thick wind 


88 


Broken knees 


9i 


Corns 


27 


Cancer 


36 


Curb 


45 


Capped hock 


45 


Capped elbow 


46 


Cramp or strain of the whirlbone joint 


5 2 


Colic 


54 


Cribbing (wind sucking) - . 


59 


Carries of the teeth - i 


68 


Chronic opthalmia or moon eyes 


7i 


Catarrhal fever 


73 


Catarrhal influenza 


74 


Phronic cough : 


75 






i^ibfex. 27 

Calculi, or stone in the bladder - 81 

Choking - - 89 

Chill - - 95 

Congenital rupture r - - 96 

Care of mares with foal - - 99 

Clysters - - 106 

Castrating - * . - 112 
Dislocation of the whirlbone joine, or "stifle out" 62 

Diseases of the mouth - 64 

Distemper - - 7 2 

Diabetes, or profuse staling - 81 

Diarrhoea - - 84 

Debility - - 90 

Diseases of the ear - - 92 

Diseases of the heart * - 92 

Drenches w - - 106 
Explanation and treatment of the foot, shoeing 20 

Founder - - 47 

Platulent colic • ■ - 55 

Fistula of the withers - • 87 

Greese or cracked heels - - 39 

Galls - ; 51 

General remarks - - 97 

Halter pulling - - 7 

Hoof rot or tender feet - 23 

Hoof bound or contracted feet - 24 

Heaves or broken wind - 75 

Hydrothroax or dropsy of the chest - 77 

Hide bound ... 82 

How to tell the age or horses • 108-112 



28 INi)feX. 

Interfering - -..'•-- 34 

Injuries of the foot - - 3$ 

Impaction of the Colon - - =56 
Inflammation of the stomach and bowels - 57 

Irregular teeth - - - 66 

Inflammation of the lungs - - 76 

" " kidneys - "79 

bladder - - 80 

Inguinal or scrotal rupture - - 96 

Jumping over fences - - 12 

Jaundice, or yellow water - - 83 

Kicking in harness • - 13 

Lolling the tongue - - 9 

Lice - - 60 

Locked jaw - - 63 

Lampas - - 65 

Liniments — . 

Sweating Liniment - - 104 

Veterinary " - - 105 

Liniment of Aconite - - 105 

Hoof Liquid - - 105 

Membrane of the nose, The - - 20 

Melanosis 61 

Mange - - 82 

Nasal gleet - "73 

New remedy for fistula and poll evil - 86 

Ossification of the lateral cartilage - - 28 

Overreaching - - 32 



ixbfcx. £9 

Ointments — 

Simple" Ointment - - 106 

Green Ointment - - 106 

Preface - - - 2-3 

Pulse, The - - 19 

Prepare'the foot for the shoe - 29 

Prick of the sole - - 38 

Pleuro-pneumonia - - 77 

Poll evil - - 85 

Quarter crack - - 36 

Ringbone - - 40 

Rheumatism - - 53 

Retention of the urine '- - 79 

Rowels - - 94 

Rupture - 96 

Recipes, as recommended in the book 

Purge - - 100 

Tonic Powders - ,- „ 101 

Cough Powders - - 101 

Condition Powders - - 102 

Worm Powders - - 102 

Fever Medicine - - 102 

Eye Medicine - - 103 

Shoeing - - - 31 

Soaking horses feet - - 33 

Split hoof, or toe crack - 37 

Scratches 39 

Splint - - 41 

Swollen legs 47 

Shoulder strain - - 50 



30 INDEX. 

Sweeney - - - 50 

Sore mouth - - 67 

Simple inflammation of the eyes - 71 

Sore throat - - 72 

Surfeit - - 83 

Stomach staggers - - 87 

Sprains - - "93 

Setons - - -94 

Spring halt - - - 69 

To my patrons - - 4-5 
The improved system of working and handling 

horses - 6 

To observe diseases - - 16 

Thrush - - 35 

Thorough pin - - 44 

Thump spasms of the diaphragm - - 78 

Ulcers in the teeth - - 66 

War bridle, The - - 7 

Wheeling around in harness - - 8 

Windgalls - - 47 

Water farcey, or yellow water - 51 

Warts - - 61 

Water farcey - - 63 

Wolf teeth - .67 

Worms - - 84 

Wounds - - _ 97 

CATTLE. 

Bronchitis - 20 

Cattle Plague 1 



IKDEX 31 



Choking - - - - 
Calving 


3 
4-8 


Diseases of the bladder 
Diseases "of the teats 


15 

19-20 


Falling of the womb 
Fever 


10 

17 


Hide bound - - 
Hair balls - - 
Hoven - - - 


2 

3 
12 


Inflammation of the udder 


iS 


Jaundice sore throat 


00 


Loss of cud - - - 
Lung fever. Lice, mange 


2 
- 20 


Milk fever 


13 


Prolapsus of the bladder 


16 


Retention of the placenta, or after birth 
Rupture in calves 
Rinderpest — Hollowhorn 


9 
12 

i7 


Spayed cows 


2 3 


Wolf in the tail 


*7 



THE FAST TROTTING STALLION 

General Washington. 

The fast trotting Stallion, General Washington, 
Will make the season of 1875, commencing March 
jst, and ending July 1st, at the stable of the subscri- 
ber, at Norwood Trotting Park, Urbana, Champaign 
County, Ohio, on the following terms, to-wit : 

Fifty dollars to insure a Colt, payable as soon as 
the Mare is known to be with foal. Parting" with a 
Mare or failing to attend regularly forfeits the insur- 
ance money. No responsibility for accidents or es- 
capes, Pasturage furnished at Three Dollars a month. 

L. D. CONVERSE. 

Description. — He is a splendid jet black ; star 
in forehead ; white hind feet ; 12 years old ; 16 hands 
high ; fine style and proportion, with plenty of bone 
and muscle ; clean, flat legs ; strong joints, and good 
sound feet ; excellent disposition, can be handled by 
a halter anywhere or driven in harness by a lady. — 
He has great speed and endurance, and a magnifi- 
cent mane and tail, without which no horse however 
perfect in form can command a large price. 

Performances. — This horse has trotted a great 
many races, and some very fast ones. Three years 
ago last fall he trotted at Sandusky City against Mo- 
hawk, Jr., and lapped him out in 2:31. He ha 3 a long, 
open, square gait, and trots clean and clear. This 
horse has always been kept 0:1 the turf, consequently 
has but few colts, but what few he has proved to be 
fast. One of his oldest colts, a six-year-old, made a 
record last fall in 2:26 at Philadelphia. He has two- 
year-olds that can show better than three minutes, &c. 

You will see by this horse's pedigree, that he is 
not to be excelled in point of high breeding by any 
trotting horse in this State. 



GENERAL WASHINGTON. 



15. 




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TO 2^ 


^ 


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_to cr 


CD 
55 




OD 


TO 

cr> 



OB 

£> QD^ TO 




R My ling Horses Success- 
fully Castrated, by lght 
method. Send Stamp for 
Circular. T. C. Miles, 

lfcL=S= ^"~~ V. S. . Charleston, Cole.; 

— Co., His. 

Ridgling horses are more troublesome and dan- 
gerous than stallions, which every horseman knows. 

To operate upon them successfully without loss 
by death has baffled the best of skill. After many 
years of practice and labor I have succeeded in dis- 
covering a method to castrate Ridgling horses, with- 
out the use of clamps or medicine and without dan- 
ger of bleeding. I use an instrument invented for 
that purpose called an ecrassure. It is as well to 
work the horse immediately after the operation. — 
Winter is as good as summer to perform the opera- 
tion. I operated on 214 Ridgling horses and spayed 
662 cows in 1S74 and offered to insure all at ten per 
cent, on the hundred dollars. Not one insured. — 
The loss was less than 3 per cent, on the horses and 
about 2 per cent, on cattle. 

Terms. — To castrate Ridgling horses $10 each 
and 10 cents a mile per railroad. Cattle spayed for 
$1 each in a manner satisfactory to the owner, or no 
charge. When there are five or more to be operated 
on in one county or township write me, giving name 
of your nearest railway station or county seat, and I 
will let you know by return mail the day I can be 
there. The greater the number of horses to be op- 
erated on the less the cost will be for each. If any 
horse dies in ten days after the operation 1 will re- 
fund the $10. 

$15 REWARD Will be given to any man 
who will bring: me a Ridgling horse that I cannot 
successfully castrate — provided the horse has not been 
cut into over two inches; 

Satisfactory references given in six States. 
Direct to T. C. MfLES,--V= S.y 

Charleston, Coles county, 111. 



' GET THE BEST. 

Horse owners who are desirous of getting a care- 
fully prepared medicine chest with all of the princi- 
pal remedies recommended in this work, can be ac- 
commodated by enclosing price to the author of this 
book or S. Buckland & Son, druggists, Fremont, 
Sandusky county, Ohio. 

Farmers and horsemen should keep a supply of 
medicine on hand. Prepare a medicine chest, or get 
one, which will only cost five dollars, complete. The 
medicine is all labeled, so that the boxes or bottles 
can be filled when empty. Horses often die for want 
of the proper remedies in time. Diseases change 
often in two or three hours. If you have no medicine 
by the time you get it, the horse may require a dif- 
ferent remedy. 

CONTENTS OF MEDICINE CHEST. 

One Box of Cough Powders 
One Box of Tonic Powders. 
One Box of Condition Powders. 
One Box of Colic Powders. 
One Box of Worm Powders. 
One Bottle of Fever Medicine. 
One Bottle ot Eye Medicine. 
One Bottle of Sweating Liniment. 
One Bottle of Veterinary Liniment. 
Three Purge Pills. 

Price of Medicine Chest, Complete - - $5 00 
The facilities I possess in my extensive labora- 
tory for preparing medicines, all manufactured under 
my immediate supervision, adding to this the extreme 
care I exercise in purchasing my diugs, ensures their 
entire genuineness. By purchasing in large quanti- 
ties the drugs that I use, I can furnish them cheaper 
than any druggist. The medicines are all labeled and 
neatly put up. 



My long experience as a veterinarian enables me 
to warrant every article I sell. Persons at a distance 
having sick or lame animals, can consult me by letter, 
giving symptoms as accurately as possible. Enclos- 
ing 50 cents. 

G. O. HARLAN, Veterinary Surgeon, 

Fre?no?it, Sandusky Co., O, 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 843 208 2 



